INTERPOL to provide increased support to global law enforcement in cyber security as new member of Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams

KYOTO, Japan – INTERPOL has become a member of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) which will enable the world’s largest police organization to better assist and support its 187 member countries in information security incident response.

At the 21st annual conference of FIRST in Japan (28 June – 3 July), the INTERPOL Information Security Incident Response Team (ISIRT) was accepted as a member of the organization, which aims to foster co-operation and co-ordination in computer network and systems security incident prevention and response. 

The INTERPOL ISIRT will provide the FIRST community with a 24-hour contact point via the Network Operations Centre to co-ordinate a global response to any information security incidents. 

 “As there is increasing connectivity to the Internet, the opportunities for criminals to exploit this medium and target victims around the world are also expanded,” said INTERPOL’s Director of Information Systems and Technology, Noboru Nakatani. 

“We have witnessed an increased number of targeted cyber attacks and information leakages and this trend is likely to continue which is why INTERPOL created its Information Security Incident Response Team. “

With a network of National Security Officers in 187 member countries already in place, INTERPOL's ISIRT is centrally placed to provide instant global support and expertise to FIRST’s already strong community of first responders and we are pleased to be a part of this,” concluded Mr Nakatani.

In February 2009, INTERPOL established the ISIRT following a resolution adopted by the INTERPOL General Assembly in 2008, encouraging the General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon France to further structure its information security policy.