2024 Security Serious Unsung Heroes cyber security awards nominations are now open, celebrating the exceptional talent in the UK security community. Check Point, a veteran cyber security company, has joined a prestigious sponsor lineup that includes names such as Hornet Security, KnowBe4, Pulse Conferences, ThinkCyber, and The Zensory.
Now in its ninth year, the Security Serious awards programme – organized by specialist PR agency Eskenzi PR – honors frontline defenders, security leaders, educators, and individuals working towards promoting diversity in the industry or raising awareness of mental health issues among security professionals.
Emilie Beneitez Lefebvre, Check Point’s PR head for APAC, EMEA, and LATAM, stated, “In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, it’s the people who make the difference in ensuring our safety. The Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards highlight the resilience and expertise of those safeguarding our cyber infrastructure.
“Check Point is excited to be a sponsor this year, as we believe in acknowledging and honoring the unsung heroes who contribute to making the UK a safer place for all.”
Yvonne Eskenzi, co-founder and director at Eskenzi PR, commented, “People are, and always have been, at the heart of the cyber security industry. However, with numerous threats and technological advancements, it can be easy to overlook the remarkable individuals behind the scenes who keep us all safe.
“The cyber security community is filled with passionate individuals dedicated to protecting businesses and the public from cyber crime, and it’s essential that we recognize them as the heroes that they are,” she added.
“The Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards provide us with a fantastic opportunity to give back to and celebrate the efforts of the cyber security community.”
Nominations are open until 5pm BST on Friday, 6 September, with the winners set to be revealed at a London event in October. The judging panel for this year includes previous winners like DocPlanner Group CISO Shan Lee and Secureworks threat intelligence knowledge manager Rebecca Taylor, along with sponsor representatives and author and educator Jenny Radcliffe, also known as The People Hacker.
Taylor, who was recognized as a diversity advocate in her organization last year, shared, “Winning Diversity Champion in 2023 was a game changer for me, opening doors to new opportunities and relationships, and giving me the confidence to continue pushing hard in my career and for diversity, equity, and inclusion in cyber security. I am thrilled to pass this on – along with the joy that comes with the awards.
“I am eagerly looking forward to seeing the exceptional pool of nominees, and I’m certain it will be a challenging task to narrow them down to the finalists! I encourage everyone to nominate, whether it’s an outstanding individual, organization, or self-nomination! Everyone making a difference in cyber security deserves to be recognized, heard, appreciated, and celebrated.”
This year’s award categories 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
- Cyber Security Wellbeing Advocate (sponsored by The Zensory)
