38th annual gathering of incident response teams — building adaptive defenses for modern threats
FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams) is the global umbrella for national CERTs, private-sector CSIRTs, and academic research groups. The annual conference is where these teams share operational intelligence, coordinate response procedures, and build the trust relationships that make cross-border incident response actually work.
Why Denver 2026 Matters
The "Peak Defense" theme reflects a shift in incident response philosophy: from reactive firefighting to building systems that adapt in real time. Expect deep-dive sessions on automated triage, AI-assisted threat hunting, playbook engineering, and the organizational structures that allow IR teams to scale without burning out.
For Ukrainian Teams
CERT-UA's active FIRST membership means Ukrainian incident responders already have a seat at this table. The conference offers opportunities to strengthen coordination with allied CERTs, share intelligence about ongoing threat campaigns, and learn from peers handling similar challenges in other conflict-affected regions.
