Cyber Confident project: How innovative consulting can foster tangible change

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Markets

Defense 
Client

Ministry of Defence

Rowena Griffiths

Apprentice Consultant, Bristol, UK contact form

One of the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) core cyber projects, the Discourse Shaping Content (DSC) team, which sits under the Cyber Resilience Programme (CRP), is paving the way for innovative consulting and delivery within the MOD cyber space.

The AtkinsRéalis team is strengthening the MOD’s cyber awareness capabilities, by redefining what improved cyber awareness can look like within this critical organisation.

Cyber security awareness and training at the MOD was previously managed in quite a linear way. As with most large organisations, cyber can feel like a very technical world, and those who don’t work directly within the domain don’t feel as though it is relevant to them. Cyber training was implemented to tackle this – but unless it was made compulsory, many personnel didn’t see the need or want to take part.

Changing perceptions

AtkinsRéalis’ expert team was brought in to deliver the Cyber Confident project, unleashing a fresh new perspective on how to tackle this issue within the MOD, and help change the misconceptions that cyber is not everyone’s responsibility.

Using a range of innovative awareness and training methods, the Cyber Confident team established a strong brand and culture within the MOD, where personnel felt excited to interact with the awareness campaigns. From cyber escape rooms to gamified quizzes, interesting animations, videos, and podcasts, the Cyber Confident team has been able to strip back cyber awareness and re-sell it in an engaging way.

This change in culture has further been enabled due to regular visits to MOD sites. Meeting the personnel on the ground who are working every day to keep the UK safe has proved undoubtedly successful, as the team has been able to bring innovative cyber awareness solutions directly to their offices and sites. Physically bringing a training tool, in person, has enabled the team to meet a plethora of MOD personnel across the UK, and oversee and support them in understanding the core elements of cyber security through using exciting tools such as our cyber escape room. This tool supports personnel to work through real-world cyber scenarios in a fun setting, allowing them to better understand the risks with everyday items in their work, such as passwords, USBs and portable devices.

In addition, the team also regularly travels across the UK, running in-person behaviour testing campaigns. For these, the team displays suspicious behaviour on MOD sites, with the goal of being stopped, questioned, and challenged by personnel. An example would be asking an individual to insert an unauthorised USB into their MOD-issued laptop, reinforcing the understanding that personnel are restricted from using USB devices with their MOD laptops.

Each month, the team delivers a campaign focusing on core cyber behaviours such as ‘how to defend yourself against phishing attacks’ or ‘maintaining security on social media’. A plethora of engaging resources are used to capture people’s attention, with animated videos, posters and desktop wallpapers which reinforce the guidance. All resources have been collected together in a ‘one-stop shop’ for people to continue to refer to and use in the future. This page has proved to be integral for the Cyber Confident brand, as it has become the main repository of accessible cyber-related information for the ‘everyday MOD personnel’.

Delivering value

The Cyber Confident project has proved to be extremely successful. The team has been able to individually target personnel across the country, engaging in scenarios where they can see how poor cyber practices could impact the MOD. From asking to use fake USBs on devices, to not wearing ID badges, the team has been able to create an environment where personnel have the opportunity to speak up and challenge.

The team’s approach to the project and client team has produced outstanding results. Their dedicated work in building a strong relationship with the client, in order for them to trust their innovative solutions, has reaped benefits throughout the MOD. Now, the Cyber Confident brand is widely known throughout the organisation, and more personnel each day are becoming accustomed to the idea that cyber is their responsibility. Through angling campaigns and in-person events to truly meet the needs of the user (MOD personnel), it has resulted in feedback received from key sites outlining an increase in cyber awareness from before Cyber Confident was established to now, four years on.

The Cyber Confident team is revolutionising the cyber landscape within the MOD by challenging traditional approaches and fostering a culture of awareness and innovation. Their unique consulting style has not only facilitated substantial improvements in cyber strategy, but has also garnered widespread recognition and positive feedback from clients – demonstrated through the increased wide-scale interest in cyber practices, and high engagement in core gamified cyber campaigns. This transformative approach has reshaped how cyber security is perceived and implemented across the MOD, leading to enhanced readiness and resilience against cyber threats.

Tony Burgess

Director, AtkinsRéalis

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Cyber Confident project: How innovative consulting can foster tangible change

Rowena Griffiths

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