ICIT I Level Up: Using Gamification to Prepare Tomorrow’s Workforce

To quantify the cybersecurity talent shortage, Forbes reported nearly a half a million unfilled cybersecurity jobs in America. An ongoing debate is what leaders can do to close this talent gap and a recurring recommendation is providing training and skills development. Gamification at the simplest level is a neuroscience “hack” that encourages ongoing participation with subject matter because of the release of dopamine from rewards such as badges, awards, or progression. In layman’s terms, gamification elicits an addition to task completion. Because games encourage participants to continue engaging, gamification is looked to as one solution for the cybersecurity talent shortage.

In this briefing, cybersecurity gamification experts will discuss their successes in using this tool to combat the talent and knowledge shortages and their recommendations for leaders looking to maximize this powerful method of learning. At the end of this briefing, leaders will have a strategic understanding of how they can leverage gamification in their current and future workforce.

Panelists:

• Simon Pavitt, Head of Cyber Awareness, Behaviors and Culture, Cyber Risk and Defence Directorate, Ministry of Defence, UK
• Brett Scott, Director of Advanced Solutions Team, Tech Data

Moderator:

• Don Maclean, ICIT Fellow, Chief Cyber Security Technologist, DLT A Tech Data Company

Session Outcomes:

1. Strategic awareness of the uses of gamification as a solution to the cyber talent shortage

2. An understanding of what gamification is and what it isn’t, and how you can use gamification in your organization

3. Explore proven scenarios and use cases for gamification tools such as cyber ranges or escape rooms

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