Welcome to CyberNorth’s February Newsletter
CyberNorth
The cyber security cluster for the North East, working to grow the sector across the region and create opportunity.
CyberNorth is working to support the growth and development of the whole cyber security community across the North East region. Find out more below and make sure you sign up so you don't miss out on key events and fun activities!
Save up to 25% on CyberFest tickets!
CyberFest 2025 promises to be another fantastic gathering of businesses from across the UK.
Exclusively for CyberNorth members, secure your tickets for the CyberFest Community Conference and CyberNorth Awards and save up to 25% with our super early bird pre-release discount.
🤝 CyberFest Community Conference - join attendees from around the globe to connect, collaborate and learn from the cyber security scene in the North East.
📅 Tuesday 7th October
⏰ 9am-4pm
📍 Newcastle Civic Centre
🏆 CyberNorth Awards - showcasing and celebrating the achievements of individuals and organisations across the cyber security sector in the North East.
📅 Wednesday 22nd October
⏰ 6pm-11.30pm
📍 Tyne Bank Brewery
HiComply Partnership
Hicomply, a provider of advanced Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) software, has partnered with CyberNorth to help build the North East’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
The collaboration aligns Hicomply’s expertise in compliance solutions with CyberNorth’s mission to develop the region’s cybersecurity community and create an “inclusive ecosystem” and a “safer place to do business”
MBE success
We were delighted to hear that Mads Howard, Manager in the Office of the CISO at Sage, has been given an MBE in the New Year’s UK Honours List.
Mads received the award for her outstanding contributions to cybersecurity along with her advocacy for gender diversity in technology.
Well done and congratulations! 🥳
Could you influence the next generation of cyber security experts?
We want to support young girls and women to get into the cyber security industry and for this, we need your help.
Our new Influencing the Influencer project includes developing a useful signposting portal with case studies, study route information and employer details in our region.
It will also see us run a series of online and in person CPD events in March to help give careers advisors and teachers a thorough understanding of the jobs available in cyber security.
Read more about the project and how to get involved over on our website, HERE.
Cyber Meet the Buyer event
To coincide with VentureFest North East England, our friends at We Are UMi are delivering a dynamic Meet the Buyer- Cyber Local event, bringing together buyers and suppliers in the cybersecurity sector.
This unique opportunity is designed to connect organisations in need of cutting-edge cyber products and services with local, innovative suppliers.
Whether you’re looking to safeguard your business, enhance your digital resilience, or showcase your expertise to decision-makers, this event provides a focused, time-efficient platform to build meaningful connections to protect and grow your business.
Let's talk space
The UK space industry is a growing, competitive sector that supports the economy, national security, and everyday life.
The UK offers exciting opportunities across the space sector, which is currently worth over £16.4 billion per year to the UK economy and employs 45,100 people.
Recommended by LinkedIn
CyberNorth members and wider business community are invited along to two fantastic upcoming events.
🚀 Space Security Roadshow
📅 11th March 2025
📍 The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
🎫 Find out more and book your tickets HERE.
🚀 UK Space Conference (HiComply CEO, Ed Bartlett, will be a guest speaker at this event)
📅 16th-17th July 2025
📍 Manchester Central
🎫 Find out more and book your tickets HERE.
The Path to Net Zero
Net zero and sustainability are goals of many companies. With increasing regulations and the UK government committed to reduce its net greenhouse gases to zero by 2050, many companies have clear pathways and strategies in how to achieve it.
For the cyber sector, the roadmap to net zero is not as clear cut. A lot of cyber security software, especially those used in large corporations consume a lot of energy. With software it is extremely complicated to understand the (scope 2) energy consumption where software design is focused on cyber security effectiveness and not necessarily energy efficiency.
With net zero becoming a priority in many sectors, the cyber security sector is soon to follow, therefore, it is imperative to try and understand its effect on carbon emissions.
CyberNorth is working with Durham University, as part of the Arrow Programme, to look at the net zero activity in the cyber sector, give an overview of how net zero can be applied to products like software, as well as understand the effect of the usage of such software would have to a company's net zero roadmap.
Getting energy consumption data for software is complicated and there is no standard in obtaining them – this project will investigate if this is something that has been done elsewhere and if not, see if it can be done. If energy consumption of individual systems could be quantified; it could then be used to optimise the software design in order to minimize its energy consumption.
The university has considerable expertise in Net Zero research, therefore, it is hoped that the resulting report will show there is potential in developing a new product or service which would standardise energy efficiency testing specifically for software with the aim of introducing net energy principles to the cyber sector.
Lumi – Igniting Futures
CyberNorth is delighted to be working with Lumi to bring a new and exciting approach to skills development to the cybersecurity and FinTech sectors across the North East.
Lumi is an adaptation of a successful programme developed at Stanford University. Launched in 2004, the programme uses design thinking to train people to develop breakthrough ideas and deep skills.
Candidates participate in a unique online Quest: A cohort of 10 candidates undertake a design-thinking journey lasting 10 sessions, supported by trained facilitators
Candidates obtain a Lumi Digital Skills Passport: The Passport captures twelve AI, Durable and Domain skills developed while building a tangible solution for a real-world challenge. The Passport is accredited by Singapore Biodesign, an affiliate of Stanford University’s Centre for Biodesign.
Candidates get hired or fast-tracked to final round: Recruiters use the evidence captured in the passport to hire those with the best fit.
Over the coming few months, the programme is looking to run 10 to 12 facilitated quests, with cohorts drawn from those who are:
Contact our team at hello@cybernorth.biz for more information.
February events roundup
Thanks to the fantastic cyber sector community, our popular CyberSips meetup in January was a sell-out, so, if you're looking to meet, connect and learn from fellow cyber security professionals, grab your February ticket while you can!
🎫 5th - Cyber Runway - Securing Smart Cities
🎫 19th - OWASP Newcastle
🎫 25th - FutureScot
🎫 27th - Precursor cyber security seminar
🎫 27th - CyberSips
Don't forget, if you have a cyber security related event, CyberNorth is happy to promote it. You can get in touch via hello@cybernorth.biz
CyberNorth is the region’s cybersecurity community, supported by Accenture, UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration and recognised by the Department for Science, Information and Technology (DSIT) and the National Cyber Security Centre as representing the region. It is part of the UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3) and Global Epic.
CyberNorth is working to support all organisations across the regional cybersecurity ecosystem including cybersecurity service suppliers, consumers of cybersecurity services, academia, government, other public sectors including blue light organisations, media and policy makers.
Our aim is to position the North East as a great place to deliver cybersecurity services.