Eskenzi PR has opened nominations for its ninth annual Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards. The awards are all about celebrating the UK’s cybersecurity professionals, teachers, lecturers, leaders, and those working to make the industry not only more secure, but also more diverse and healthier for employees.
Key sponsors include Check Point, KnowBe4, Hornetsecurity, ThinkCyber, Pulse Conferences and The Zensory. The awards are also supported by Computer Weekly, Security On Screen and the IT Security Guru.
The awards celebrate the cybersecurity professionals who go above and beyond to make a difference, often behind the scenes. They recognise educators who are fostering the next generation of cyber talent, those who are fighting cybercrime head-on, and mentors who are guiding others in the field.
The awards also acknowledge those who are making cybersecurity a more inclusive space (Diversity Champion) and those who prioritise the wellbeing of their peers (Cybersecurity Wellbeing Advocate).
Entries are now open, which includes filling in a short form detailing why the person deserves the award. Nominations will remain open until 5pm on the 6th of September 2024, before closing for review by an esteemed panel of judges.
The awards are judged by an esteemed panel of respected industry figures. So far judges include:
- Jenny Radcliffe, author and world-renowned people hacker
- Shan Lee, CISO at DocPlanner Group and 2023 CISO Supremo winner
- Yvonne Eskenzi, lead organiser and director of Eskenzi PR
- Javvad Malik, lead security awareness advocate at KnowBe4
- Rebecca Taylor, Threat Intelligence Knowledge Manager at Secureworks and 2023 Diversity Champion winner.
- Tim Ward, CEO of ThinkCyber
Nominees, nominators and their guests are then invited to a celebratory evening hosted on the 16th of October 2024 at St Barts Brewery in London to coincide with Cybersecurity Awareness Month. With thanks to our sponsors, the Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards are free to enter and to attend, setting it apart from other industry awards.
“People are, and always have been, at the heart of the cybersecurity industry. However, with so many threats and so much technological development, it can be easy to lose sight of the great people behind the scenes keeping us all safe,” said Yvonne Eskenzi, Co-Founder and Director at Eskenzi PR. “The cybersecurity community is full of people who are passionate about keeping businesses and the public safe from the threat of cybercrime, at any cost, and it’s important that we celebrate them as the heroes that they are.
“The Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards are a brilliant way for us to give back to and celebrate the efforts of the cybersecurity community!”
Categories this year include:
- Cyber Writer
- Godparent of Security
- Data Guardian
- CISO Supremo (sponsored by Hornet Security)
- Security Avengers – Best Team
- Best Educator
- Best Ethical Hacker/Pentester
- Rising Star
- Security Mentor
- Best Security Awareness Campaign (sponsored by KnowBe4)
- Diversity Champion
- Cybersecurity Wellbeing Advocate (sponsored by The Zensory)
For more information, visit: https://www.securityserious.com/unsung-heroes/
To nominate, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFLluWtvLjwN_2YFC8GqZDezURF3aVAWKaetJpVlsvrEZABA/viewform?usp=send_form
Additional Quotes
Irvin Shillingford, Regional Manager Northern Europe at Hornetsecurity said: “We are pleased to be supporting this year’s Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards. It’s important that we come together as a community to celebrate the incredible individuals and teams who keep us safe. We’re particularly proud to be sponsoring the 2024 CISO Supremo category. CISOs are at the forefront of keeping organisations safe, but are under increasing pressure. It’s imperative that we recognise the exceptional work that these individuals do to protect their organisations and the wider public.”
Tim Ward, CEO of ThinkCyber, said: “I’m delighted that ThinkCyber is sponsoring this year’s Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards. These awards highlight the incredible efforts of cybersecurity professionals who tirelessly work behind the scenes to protect our digital world. At ThinkCyber, we believe in the power of recognition and the importance of celebrating those who make our industry stronger, more secure, and more inclusive. It is an honour to be part of this initiative that shines a light on the true heroes of cybersecurity.”
Rebecca Taylor, Threat Intelligence Knowledge Manager at Secureworks – “I am delighted to be a judge for this year’s Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards. Winning ‘Diversity Champion’ in 2023 was a game changer for me, not only opening doors to new opportunities and relationships but giving me the confidence to keep pushing hard in my career, and for diversity, equity and inclusion across cybersecurity. I am excited to pass this – and the joy that comes with the awards – on.
I cannot wait to see the amazing pool of nominees and I am sure it will be no easy task whittling them down to the finalists! Please do nominate, whether it be an amazing individual, an organisation, or a self-nomination! All those making a difference in cyber deserve to be seen, heard, appreciated and celebrated.”
“We look forward to sponsoring these awards every year to draw attention to the work that the industry and end-user organisations are doing throughout the year to educate employees and raise awareness among the public around dealing with cyber threats,” concluded Javvad Malik, the lead security awareness advocate at KnowBe4. “In a year that’s been marked by yet more ransomware attacks, rampant phishing campaigns and the gaining pace of AI, it’s a welcome reprieve to celebrate the efforts made to keep the UK a safer place to do business.”
To read more Eskenzi news, click here.
