The Common Good Cyber Initiative has released a comprehensive report following a pivotal workshop aimed at increasing the sustainability of nonprofit organizations that play a critical role in cybersecurity. The workshop, held in February 2024 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, brought together key stakeholders to address the challenges faced by these organizations, particularly when it comes to funding.
The workshop report details the discussions and outcomes of the event, which engaged more than 100 in-person participants and a further 200 online participants. These delegates came from a diverse range of sectors, including governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, business and academia, and emphasized the urgent need for broad interest and collaborative efforts in this area.
Main outcomes of the workshop:
- Mapping the cybersecurity nonprofit ecosystem: This report provides an in-depth analysis of the landscape of cybersecurity nonprofit organizations, highlighting the significant contributions and economic impact of these organizations. This mapping effort is an important step in recognizing the essential role nonprofits play in maintaining cyber resilience and security.
- Capacity development efforts: Recognizing that organizational growth is essential, the workshop outlined strategies for capacity support and acceleration for cybersecurity nonprofits. This includes targeted training on marketing and fundraising to help these organizations obtain sustainable funding and expand their operations.
- Establishing a joint financing mechanism: Perhaps the most important outcome is a proposal to create a collaborative funding mechanism that would provide a stable financial foundation for cybersecurity nonprofits. The report details proposed governance structures and allocation criteria designed to ensure transparency and fairness in the allocation of resources.
This workshop was organized by the Cyber Threat Alliance, CyberPeace Institute, Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), Global Cyber Alliance, Institute for Security and Technology (IST), and Shadow Server Foundation. The involvement of these organizations highlights a shared recognition within the cybersecurity community of the need for increased support and resources for nonprofits in this field.
The Common Good Cyber Initiative's workshop report is more than just a summary of the discussion, it's a roadmap for action. It lays out clear, actionable steps that cybersecurity nonprofits can take to support their critical work and ensure they have the resources they need to continue their critical work protecting the world's cyber infrastructure. We ensure that nonprofits have access to. As this report is circulated among stakeholders and policymakers, further collaboration and funding efforts will be sought to address the systemic underfunding that has long hampered the effectiveness of the cybersecurity nonprofit sector. is expected to be promoted.
Read the full report here.
