National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) of Pakistan, in collaboration with its international technology partner Group IB, organized an interactive training session on Incident Response and Digital Forensics for participants of the Summer Internship Program 2026. Held in Islamabad, the session formed part of National CERT’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity capacity by connecting aspiring professionals with experienced industry practitioners. The initiative provided interns with practical exposure to real world cybersecurity operations while helping them understand how organizations investigate, respond to and recover from cyber incidents. Through its internship program, National CERT continues to promote technical learning and industry engagement to support the development of a skilled cybersecurity workforce in Pakistan.
The session was led by Mr. Igor Stolyarov, Business Development Director for Digital Risk Protection, MEA at Group IB, and delivered by Mr. Mohamed Hamdi, Unified Cybersecurity Services Manager at Group IB. Titled Incident Response and Digital Forensics: Investigating and Recovering from Cyber Incidents, the training introduced participants to modern approaches used by cybersecurity professionals to identify security incidents, conduct investigations, analyze digital evidence and implement recovery measures. Interns also gained insights into incident handling processes, digital forensic methodologies and the importance of timely response in reducing the impact of cyber threats. The session combined technical knowledge with practical industry perspectives, allowing participants to better understand how cybersecurity teams manage incidents in professional environments.
According to National CERT, the engagement reflects its commitment to bridging the gap between emerging cybersecurity talent and the industry by creating opportunities for direct interaction with experienced professionals. Throughout the session, interns actively participated in discussions, asked questions and engaged with the trainers to enhance their technical understanding of incident response and digital forensics. National CERT stated that exposing students to practical cybersecurity scenarios helps them develop a stronger understanding of security operations while preparing them for future roles in the cybersecurity sector. The organization believes such knowledge sharing initiatives contribute to building technical expertise and encouraging a security focused mindset among young professionals entering the field.
National CERT said its Summer Internship Program continues to serve as a platform for connecting aspiring cybersecurity professionals with leading technology organizations and experienced practitioners. The organization noted that partnerships with international companies such as Group IB help interns gain valuable exposure to current cybersecurity practices and strengthen their readiness for professional careers. National CERT also expressed its appreciation to Group IB for organizing and facilitating the training session and acknowledged the company’s contribution to developing cybersecurity talent in Pakistan. The collaboration highlights the importance of industry partnerships in supporting cyber capacity building, enhancing technical skills and strengthening the country’s digital security ecosystem.
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