Leveraging external support

No matter how lean, a SIRT benefits from external networks and expertise. These partnerships provide intelligence, additional capacity, and validation of your processes.

Strategies

  • Identify trusted CSIRTs and peers: Know who you can reach for guidance or support. Maintain current contact info.

  • Agreements for assistance: Have informal or formal arrangements for sharing intelligence or requesting technical help during incidents.

  • Optional support, not replacement: The SIRT remains responsible for decision-making; external partners supplement internal capability.

  • Engage regulators appropriately: If required, establish reporting channels before incidents occur to avoid delays or confusion.

Tips

  • Treat external partners as emergency contacts: regularly confirm availability.

  • Include partners in occasional simulation exercises to test coordination.

  • Keep partnerships documented and easily accessible during incidents.

CSIRT.global

CSIRT.global is a volunteer‑led, non‑profit foundation registered in the Netherlands, with a mission to make the internet safer by finding and reporting vulnerabilities that others often overlook. It works internationally, in close cooperation with trusted CSIRTs, CERTs, infrastructure operators, and the wider security community.

What CSIRT.global does:

  • Identifies and verifies vulnerabilities in systems, services, and devices.

  • Notifies affected organisations and vendors, working to ensure vulnerabilities are fixed.

  • Handles responsible disclosure, especially for large‑scale or internet‑wide issues.

  • Shares findings with trusted partners to improve collective security.

Where it operates:

  • Globally, with volunteer members and partner organisations across sectors and countries.

What it can do for your organisation:

  • Assist in identifying vulnerabilities you may not have the resources to find yourself.

  • Provide verified, responsibly disclosed reports to help you address issues quickly.

  • Connect you to a trusted network of responders for coordinated remediation.

CSIRT.global is not an incident management contractor — they will not take over your breach investigation or run your SIRT — but they can be a valuable ally in the prevention side of security, especially for vulnerabilities that could otherwise go unnoticed.

SIRT vs. CSIRT.global: who does what?

Task or Responsibility

Your Internal SIRT

CSIRT.global

Investigating active incidents (breaches, ransomware, intrusions)

✅ Yes – core function

❌ No

Coordinating incident response across departments

✅ Yes

❌ No

Legal, communications, and documentation during an incident

✅ Yes

❌ No

Identifying vulnerabilities in your systems

✅ Sometimes (if trained)

✅ Yes – focus area

Large‑scale or internet‑wide vulnerability scanning

❌ Not usually

✅ Yes

Responsible vulnerability disclosure to vendors/affected parties

❌ Not always

✅ Yes

Sharing threat and vulnerability intel with trusted networks

✅ Sometimes

✅ Yes

Acting as a breach “first responder”

✅ Yes

❌ No

Long‑term preventative security collaboration

✅ Yes

✅ Yes
Ask us about external incident support