CREST launches Communitech – drama-based workshops for cyber security awareness
12 April 2023
International not-for-profit cyber security body launches youth and community group cyber security awareness training for developing nations.
CREST, the global community of cyber security businesses and professionals working to keep information safe in a digital world, is launching a new way of spreading the cyber security awareness message – through a specially-commissioned drama workshop, called Communitech.
As part of CREST’s ongoing work in encouraging greater cyber readiness and resilience in emerging nations, the workshop has been created in conjunction with the UK-based Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust (Masterclass). Masterclass supports emerging theatre makers and provides a bridge between the corporate sector and young creatives’ writing and devising skills.
The workshop is designed for a small group of participants to role play different common scenarios where online security might be compromised, such as phishing, (fake emails requesting personal information), social engineering (manipulating people to reveal information), password protection, using public WiFi and other scams increasingly employed by cunning cyber criminals.
Charlotte Wallis from the Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust says: “Our Communitech workshop pack was created by young theatre makers from our large network, and uses drama exercises to explore cybersecurity issues and prevention techniques to instil confidence in participants about staying safe online.
“Following our successful Cyberscene Project in 2017, CREST International asked us to facilitate the creation of resources for their wider campaign to build trusted cybersecurity expertise in individuals and organisations in low-income countries.”
CREST received a US$1.4 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2020 to help increase cyber security capacity and cyber resilience in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania and Uganda.
As well as producing deep research examining the state of cyber readiness in key sectors across these eight developing nations, CREST’s work revealed that cyber security awareness urgently needs to be more widely taught – and more accessible.
The Communitech workshop is designed to make exploring cybersecurity an accessible, fun, practical activity that can be delivered internationally. The free-to-download workshop pack is designed to be delivered by community leaders, teachers or anyone with an interest in improving public perception of cyber security issues. It was created by Katherine Sturt-Scobie and Tess Agus, in association with Masterclass, and with support and input from trial workshop attendees and additional resources from Bob’s Business.
CREST CEO Nick Benson says: “Cyber attacks are growing globally, but in many developing nations, unscrupulous cyber criminals are targeting people who aren’t necessarily as familiar with the online world, taking advantage of those with less knowledge of cyber security. We believe it’s vital to help stop cybercrime by arming everyone with the knowledge to act responsibly online. This workshop delivers strong messages about how to secure your presence and activities online, in a fun, engaging and accessible way.”
The places the workshop may be used are within schools, community groups or among religious communities. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy the workshop – no specialist knowledge is required. It is hoped those who take part in a workshop will then spread what they have learnt among the wider community. To aid understanding and help disseminate the skills learnt during the event, workshop attendees will receive some takeaway notes including common cyber security terms and tips.
For more information go to: https://masterclass.org.uk/about-us/the-communitech-project
About CREST
CREST is a not-for-profit accreditation and certification body representing the technical information security industry. CREST provides internationally recognised accreditations for organisations providing technical security services and professional level certifications for individuals providing vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, cyber incident response, threat intelligence and security operations centre (SOC) services. CREST Member companies undergo regular and stringent assessment, whilst CREST certified individuals undertake rigorous examinations to demonstrate the highest levels of knowledge, skill and competence. To ensure currency of knowledge in fast changing technical security environments the certification process is repeated every three years.
For more information on CREST: www.crest-approved.org
For media enquires contact: Allie Andrews, [email protected]
