Trusted CI Celebrates Sixth Cohort Graduation & Opens Call for 2026 Engagement

Trusted CI’s sixth Framework Cohort, “Foxtrot”, successfully completed the six-month program of training and workshop engagement focused on learning and applying the Trusted CI Framework. The Cohort members entered the engagement with a commitment to adopting the Framework at their organizations. They then worked closely with Trusted CI to gather facility information and create validated self-assessments of their cybersecurity programs based on the Framework. Each organization also emerged with a draft Cybersecurity Program Strategic Plan (CPSP) identifying priorities and directions for further refining their cybersecurity programs. Foxtrot cohort included the following research-oriented organizations:

 ALMA  |  DERConnect  |  UC Davis  |  US ATLAS  |  ZEUS

The foundation of the cohort program is the Trusted CI Framework. The Framework was created as a minimum standard for cybersecurity programs. In contrast to cybersecurity guidance focused narrowly on cybersecurity controls, the Trusted CI Framework provides a more holistic and mission-focused standard for managing cybersecurity. For these organizations, the cohort was their first formal training in the Trusted CI Framework “Pillars” and “Musts” and how to apply these fundamental principles to assess their cybersecurity programs.

Feedback on the program from cohort participants has been strongly positive:

"Participating in the Trusted CI Cohort was an excellent experience and brought significant value to our team. As a research group working at the intersection of the power grid and renewable energy, cybersecurity is critical for both our daily operations and the broader transition to smarter, more connected technologies. The cohort facilitators provided expert guidance and a practical framework that helped us clarify our cybersecurity risks, baseline controls, stakeholder responsibilities, and more. Through their collaborative and thorough approach, we developed an actionable, strategic plan and gained a holistic understanding of our security posture. With this training, we feel empowered and better prepared to implement a robust cybersecurity program, strengthening both our research and industry collaborations."

 - Keaton Chia, R&D Engineer and Project Manager, DERConnect 

 

 2026 Framework Cohort Call for Participation Open

Trusted CI has a few spots left for the 2026 Framework Cohort engagement (starting January 2026). To learn more or to submit the interest form for your organization, visit trustedci.org/framework/cohort-participation. 

Engagement with RISC

Concurrent with leading Foxtrot, Trusted CI continued quarterly engagement with graduates of the five previous Framework cohorts through the Research Infrastructure Security Community (RISC). Trusted CI established RISC as a community of practice to provide a forum for cohort graduates to expand their cybersecurity knowledge, share experiences, and build relationships within the NSF research cyberinfrastructure community.

For more information, please contact us at framework@trustedci.org.