Hey there, Bay Area friends! I recently had the privilege of attending an amazing event in the beautiful city of Helsinki, Finland, that I think you’ll find as fascinating as I do. You know how passionate we are about the pressing issues of healthcare and cybersecurity, don’t you? So, you can guess how thrilled I was to hear that there was a whole event dedicated to digital arts, gaming, and – you guessed it – cybersecurity.
Assembly, what an apt moniker for the event, attracts the whos-who of the tech world. This year more than 20,000 delegates came together flaunting their creativity and technological prowess; it was a tech enthusiast’s paradise. Interestingly, this was the first time that Finland’s national Cyber Security Centre and the police force joined forces. They set up a joint stand to spread awareness on cybersecurity, reminding all attendees about the importance of information security, ethical hacking, and the fine line between illegal and legal activities.
There’s more to their participation than just being a stern reminder about cybersecurity. “The grass is greener on this side of the fence”, their theme, played a dual role. Firstly, it aimed to promote moral and ethical values that we all must uphold in the digital era. Secondly, it highlighted educational pathways and potential job opportunities in the cybersecurity field that many young enthusiasts may not be aware of yet. So, it wasn’t just about instruction; it was education and encouragement too.
And, just as we like it here in the Bay Area, they also made it fun. No San Francisco fair is complete without an element of play, right? They came up with a security game developed by the EU Cyber Citizen project and another CTF (Capture The Flag) game put up by a youthful hacker community. This gave the attendees a chance to apply their cybersecurity skills practically in a controlled environment. Can you imagine the thrill of fighting off virtual bad guys?
Over the four days of the convention, nearly 2,000 guests visited the combined exhibit of Traficom’s Cyber Security Centre and the Finnish police. This shows how interested and invested we are in the realm of cybersecurity. Of course, such massive projects require substantial funding, and I must mention that the National Coordination Centre generously sponsored it. All in all, their presence played a significant part in increasing awareness about cybersecurity and its potentials.
With the blend of entertainment, competition, education, and career opportunity, the Helsinki Assembly event has indeed carved a niche. It definitely inspired me and many others to level up our cybersecurity skills, stay informed, and make choices that help keep our digital world safe and secure.
I can’t wait to bring back learnings from this event and share them with the healthcare and cybersecurity community here in the Bay Area. Let’s continue to foster a safe and secure digital sphere together, folks! Remember, the grass is indeed greener on our side of the fence.
by Morgan Phisher | HEAL Security
