Leading IT solutions provider, CGI, brought its Cyber Escape experience to Lincoln as a part of a UK-wide tour. The escape room-style experience allowed staff, students, and local organisations to learn about online security risks in a fun and interactive way.
CGI’s Cyber Escape was hosted at the University of Lincoln, where staff and students were invited to visit the experience and put their knowledge to the test in a simulated “real-life” setting. Teams from the Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, Lincoln City Foundation and Ministry of Defence also joined throughout the week to explore. Attendees teamed up to beat the hacker and learn about cyber security risks and how to avoid them.
The experience is built within a shipping container and enables small groups to participate in a short “escape”. Teams must work together to uncover clues, solve puzzles, and accomplish cyber-related tasks to escape successfully in the time allowed. The experience allows users to test their cyber skills to see if they have what it takes to stay safe in our digital world. Participants learn critical skills in a simulated real-world setting through interactive activities, much like other escape rooms. Alongside this hands-on learning experience, CGI offered University of Lincoln students the opportunity to also join a talk, focused on Agile and hybrid ways of working in Space, Defence and Intelligence. It offered them a chance to learn from professionals and openly discuss the opportunities open to them for future graduate employment routes.
Donna Kelly for CGI in the UK said: “Cyber security is vitally important for individuals, companies, educational establishments, and our communities alike. We all spend much of our personal and professional lives online, and it is imperative everyone knows how to practice safe cyber techniques and can continue honing their existing skills. We were pleased to share the experience with the University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, Lincoln City Foundation, and other organisations who attended. We look forward to continuing our engagement in the region after our involvement in the recent half-marathon and work with the Lincoln City Foundation.”
Yvonne James, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science (Cyber) & Programme Leader Cyber Security and Computer Networking from the University of Lincoln, said: “We were excited to bring this experience and the opportunity to discuss career routes to our students. They were able to learn the real-world implications of cybersecurity, the vulnerabilities people experience in a day-to-day situation, and receive exposure to career opportunities after university.”
The Cyber Escape experience was developed by CGI’s UK Cyber Security practice to train, educate and engage with businesses to help them better understand cyber security risks, complement any existing security awareness training, and increase knowledge of how to reduce the impact of a cyber-attack in a unique way. In conjunction with the organisation’s STEM@CGI team, it has tailored the experience for young people too, as they face evolving cyber threats and challenges online.
CGI’s Cyber Escape will be transported around the country to different locations for students and staff to participate in their cyber adventure, or arrangements may be made to visit the experience at a CGI location.
To find out more about CGI’s Cyber Escape experience and how you can get involved, visit: https://www.cgi.com/uk/cyberescape
