How can I contribute to a research document?
Join a working group! Have a topic that interests you that you may
want to share your knowledge on? Working Groups work through
quarterly objectives and combine contributions that can end up as
white papers, blogs, and even webinars.
View active working groups
How do I join a working group?
To join a work group, you will need to create an account on
CSA’s community platform Circle. Once you have created an account, browse the Research Working Group Communities and select the group you would like to join. You will then be
onboarded to the Circle Community for that working group, which
is where most of the weekly meeting notes and documents are
stored that are currently being worked on.
How are research topics selected?
Current and future trends are constantly being
monitored and analyzed to ensure the topics that are being approached
will help the community as a whole. These topics can stem from
volunteers, members, or any other community involvement that has
seen a raised awareness on a subject, or covering a topic that may
need further foundation and knowledge basis.
How much time does it take to contribute to
CSA research?
As much or as little as you would like to contribute.
Working group calls are driven from the volunteers and members of
the group. As much as we would love to hear from everyone on every
meeting, sometimes that isn’t feasible. That’s why you can even
join a working group and be a fly on the wall, or assist in
discussion and idea topics. There is no specific time requirement.
Does it cost anything to be involved in CSA research?
There is no cost to be involved.
What contributions go towards the CSA Research Fellow?
Easy! Just achieve the following:
- 100 hours of cumulative time volunteering in CSA research
activities
- Material participation in a CSA working group culminating in a
published research artifact
- One reference from a CSA staff member and one reference from
an external member of the information security community
For more Information on the CSA Fellowship Program please
visit https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/research/fellowship.
How and where do working groups meet?
A typical working group meeting is scheduled through
Webex invite from the comfort of your own home, work, or local
coffee house. In most cases the groups meet once every two weeks
online, but is of course dependent on agreed schedules.
What software/tools do I need to attend or
participate in CSA research events?
A PC or laptop is highly recommended, but if you are
unable to have one during a scheduled meeting, a cell phone with
a stable connection will suffice. All scheduled calendar invites
are emailed to participants in each working group where a link to
the call details is provided. Collaboration efforts usually take
place in working documents that can be shared, so internet is a must!
Do you have in-person research meetings?
The research team meets twice a month in person,
however if any volunteers are local, we would love to schedule
time to meet. Aside from those instances, the research team also
will typically schedule in person meetings during conventions
where we are present to give volunteers and members a chance to
meet collaborate in real time and meet the team.
How often do the WGs meet, and for how
long (cadence and duration)?
A typical working group will meet twice a month,
for roughly an hour at a time. Much of the time spent on
projects will be outside of these calls however. The calls
address prioritized items and weekly to-do lists. As well as
any other business someone may need to address.
Which Working Groups are looking for volunteers?
All of them! There is never too much knowledge or
collaboration effort.
What kind of knowledge or expertise does it take
to contribute to CSA research?
You can either be a subject-matter expert or have
general technical knowledge that relates to the working group’s
topic. Once familiar with the work that the WG is developing you
can decide the level of your involvement according to your time
and comfort zone. Since not any one person contains all the
answers, these groups are built off of learning from one another
to strengthen knowledge as a whole.
Still have questions? Contact [email protected] and we will be glad to answer them.