FORUM OF INCIDENT RESPONSE AND SECURITY TEAMS
                                (FIRST)
     (Formerly the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) System)


                  INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL MEMBERS 



Participants in the Forum are part of a network of computer security incident response teams
that work together voluntarily to deal with computer security problems and their prevention.
 
There are two types of participation in the Forum.  Forum Members represent organizations
who assist an information technology community or other defined constituency in preventing
and handling computer security-related incidents.  Liaisons are individuals or representatives
of organizations other than emergency response teams that have a legitimate interest in and
value to the Forum.

As outlined in the enclosed CERT System Operational Framework, new participants in the
Forum, either as Forum Members or Liaisons, must be nominated by an existing Member and
approved by 2/3 vote of all members of the Steering Committee.  A prospective new Forum
Member or Liaison must provide to the sponsoring Forum Member the following information
in support of its nomination:
      
      o    Completion of the enclosed Form, "Forum Member/Liaison Profile" 

      o    Letter to the Forum Secretariat stating:
                 - Reasons for joining the Forum
                 - Benefits to Forum of nominee's participation
                 
Information on a prospective participant will be circulated among existing Forum Members
for possible nomination interest.  Information provided by the nominee is reviewed by the
Steering Committee, which will vote on acceptance of the nominee.  Written notification of
acceptance will be sent by the Secretariat. 


Enclosures
  Forum Member/Liaison Profile Form
  Forum Operational Framework