CyberLab Partners with Women in Tech North to Support Future Talent
Careers in Cyber Security
International Women’s Day 2025: Accelerating Action for Women in Cyber
Last week, Women in Tech North, in collaboration with CyberLab, hosted an inspiring event in Manchester to mark International Women’s Day 2025.
The event focused on driving awareness of careers in cyber security, highlighting the importance of visibility, mentorship, and flexible work policies to support women in tech.
Elena Doncheva, Marketing Director at CyberLab, hosted a panel discussion featuring three accomplished women in the cyber sector Kate Smyth (Healey), Mid-Market Sales Director, NEMEA at Sophos, Yessika Tatiana Gamboa, Cyber Risk Analyst at Cydea and Anna Dyson, PhD Researcher at Lancaster University.
Non-Traditional Career Paths
The panellists shared their diverse journeys into cyber security, reinforcing that technical backgrounds are not the only pathway into the field. From international relations and drone research to risk analysis and sales, their stories demonstrated that cyber security thrives on varied perspectives and expertise.
How Businesses Can Support Women in Cyber
The discussion emphasised the need for companies to actively support women by implementing flexible work arrangements, mentorship programs, and more inclusive hiring practices.
Overcoming Bias and Promoting Career Growth
Despite progress, only 22% of the cyber workforce is female according to UK Cyber Security Council research – significantly lagging behind other digital sectors. The panel encouraged women to embrace personal PR, actively seek mentorship, and take ownership of their career progression.
Practical Career Support
After the panel, attendees had the opportunity to join a CV advice session led by Mimi Rostron, People Manager at CyberLab, to gain practical insights into standing out in the job market. The session reinforced the importance of networking, self-advocacy, and resilience in career advancement.
Becoming an Ally
Adam Myers, Sales Director at CyberLab, shared that for allies in the industry, small actions can have a significant impact:
- Amplify women’s voices in meetings and projects: communicate openly, positively, honestly and constructively.
- Advocate for inclusive hiring and mentorship opportunities: growth creates opportunity for everyone to progress their career, to develop knowledge and skill, to gain reward and recognition and to maximise their potential.
- Call out biases and challenge systemic barriers within the workplace: challenge those whose behaviour or attitude does not support an inclusive culture.
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CyberLab Collaborates with CDI & Manchester Metropolitan University
Healthcare Under Siege Event: Cyber Security for Healthcare Professionals
On Thursday, 28 November 2024, CyberLab, in collaboration with the Centre for Digital Innovation and Manchester Metropolitan University, hosted a highly impactful event: Healthcare Under Siege: Cyber Security for Healthcare Professionals.
Held at the GM Digital Security Hub (DiSH) in Manchester, the event attracted healthcare and cyber security professionals eager to address the alarming rise of cyber threats targeting the healthcare sector.
Highlights of the Day
The day centred around a live cyber attack simulation and an in-depth exploration of the vulnerabilities faced by healthcare organisations. Participants gained actionable insights to enhance their security posture.
Live Cyber Attack Simulation
The event featured a riveting session led by Ryan Bradbury, CTO of CyberLab, supported by a team of CREST, CHECK, and Cyber Scheme-approved engineers. The simulation demonstrated how a hacker could breach an organisation’s defences within just five minutes. Attendees were taken step-by-step through the methods malicious actors use to exploit vulnerabilities.
Understanding Healthcare-Specific Risks
Ryan delved into the unique challenges faced by healthcare organisations, highlighting statistics like the 67% of healthcare organisations hit by ransomware in 2024, as reported by Sophos. He addressed the critical need for stronger defences in a sector where data breaches can have life-altering consequences.
Best Practices for Cyber Security in Healthcare
The session concluded with practical recommendations tailored for healthcare professionals. These included strategies for improving password hygiene, implementing multi-factor authentication, regular security training, and ensuring robust data backup protocols.
Key Takeaways
Healthcare is a Prime Target for Cyber Attacks
With sensitive data and critical systems at stake, healthcare organisations must prioritise cyber security.
Understanding Vulnerabilities is Essential
The simulation showcased how easily breaches can occur, underlining the importance of identifying and mitigating weak points.
Proactive Measures Save Lives
Beyond financial loss, breaches in healthcare can directly impact patient care, making proactive security an ethical imperative.
Free Posture Assessment
Understand your security risks and how to fix them.
Take the first step to improving your cyber security posture, looking at ten key areas you and your organisation should focus on, backed by NCSC guidance.
Claim your free 30-minute guided posture assessment with a CyberLab expert.
CyberLab x Lancaster University Event: Human vs AI Intelligence & Cyber Risk
Understanding the Interplay Between Human Intelligence & AI
On Tuesday November 19th 2024, CyberLab, in collaboration with Lancaster University, hosted the highly anticipated event Human vs AI Intelligence & Cyber Risk at the GM Digital Security Hub in Manchester.
The event brought together professionals, academics, and thought leaders to explore the evolving challenges posed by artificial intelligence and cyber threats.
Over the course of three insightful workshops, attendees gained a deeper understanding of the interplay between human intelligence and AI in the context of cyber risk.
Highlights of the Day
The event delivered a powerful blend of practical insights and interactive learning through three workshops designed to illuminate the complexities of cyber risk in the age of AI.
Workshop 1: Under Siege
Led by Ryan Bradbury, CTO of CyberLab, this session featured a live cyber attack simulation. Attendees watched as vulnerabilities were exploited in real-time, gaining first-hand insights into how cyber criminals operate. Ryan provided practical advice on fortifying defences to protect against similar scenarios, leaving participants with actionable takeaways.
Workshop 2: Defining & Measuring Cyber Risk
In this session, Anna Dyson from Lancaster University guided participants through the process of defining and assessing cyber risk. Using tools and frameworks, attendees learned to measure potential losses and better understand attack motivations, helping them to evaluate their organisation’s vulnerabilities more effectively.
Workshop 3: Bot or Not?
Researchers from Lancaster University put attendees to the test in distinguishing between human and AI-generated voices. This fascinating exercise highlighted the advancements in forensic linguistics and AI detection, showcasing the difficulty of identifying AI-driven content and the implications for cyber security.
Key Takeaways
Cyber Criminals are Leveraging AI
The rise of AI technologies has introduced new dimensions to cyber attacks, increasing their scale and sophistication.
Risk Measurement is Critical
Effective strategies begin with understanding and quantifying risks to prioritise defences and allocate resources.
Human Expertise Remains Crucial
Despite AI’s capabilities, the role of human intelligence in identifying and mitigating risks is irreplaceable.
Free Posture Assessment
Understand your security risks and how to fix them.
Take the first step to improving your cyber security posture, looking at ten key areas you and your organisation should focus on, backed by NCSC guidance.
Claim your free 30-minute guided posture assessment with a CyberLab expert.
CyberLab at the Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI) Roadshow
Live Hacking at the Cyber Security & Digital Health Innovation Event
On 30th January 2025, CyberLab was proud to participate in the Cyber Security and Digital Health Innovation in Education event, hosted at City Campus Manchester as part of the CDI Roadshow.
The event brought together industry experts, educators, and business leaders to explore the evolving landscape of cyber security, digital health, and education.
Our team delivered an impactful live hack demonstration, providing attendees with a first-hand look at how cyber criminals exploit vulnerabilities in real time.
CyberLab’s Live Hack: “Under Siege – How a Hacker Can Break Into Your Organisation in 5 Minutes”
CyberLab took centre stage during the demo session, delivering a step-by-step live simulation of a cyber attack. The session exposed the rapid and sophisticated methods used by cyber criminals to infiltrate systems.
With support from CREST, CHECK, and Cyber Scheme-approved engineers, our demonstration showcased:
• Common vulnerabilities that hackers exploit within minutes.
• Real-world attack strategies, including phishing, credential theft, and privilege escalation.
• Best practices for securing systems and mitigating risk.
Attendees witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of a cyber breach, reinforcing the urgency of proactive cyber defence strategies.
Looking Ahead: Empowering Organisations with Cyber Resilience
CyberLab remains committed to bridging the gap between industry and education, ensuring that businesses, institutions, and individuals stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
We extend our thanks to the CDI consortium, GMColleges, and event organisers for bringing together such an inspiring and forward-thinking community. As cyber threats continue to evolve, so must our collective approach to defence.
Cyber Security for Education
Cyber attacks are highly disruptive, impacting your systems and data security while disturbing the educational environment for students, faculty, and staff.
Our range of education security solutions has been crafted to meet the specific security needs of today’s educational institutions, drawing on years of experience working with schools, universities, and other educational organisations.
We’ve put together these recommendations to ensure uninterrupted learning, protect your systems and networks, and safeguard sensitive data.