Winnipeg cyber security company looks to make cyber training more fun and interactive

A local cyber security company is looking at training in a new light, by using games to teach you how to avoid getting hacked. This new board game and arcade game prototype is called Cyber Cup, which is the first of its kind in Canada

“The approach is how do we use gamification to continue the process on the ongoing training program,” explained Hernan Popper, the founder of POPP3R CYBER SECURITY.

“We know that current methods of training staff for business for organization for universities are not really cutting it.

“How do we find ways to get this security awareness training or human risk management, delivered in a way that can actually create change in the company culture and change behaviours.”

One concept that is looking to change the current mold is a board game called Cyber Wargame, which is an awareness tool created by a French company called Game Partners that looks to strengthen professionals’ skills and prepare them to face digital threats, through a fun and collaborative card game that not only keeps you involved but helps you retain information

“In order to play the game, you need to understand social engineering, you need to put yourself in the place of a defender and then you learn while playing, which is the best way to keep that information and start changing those behaviours,” said Popper.

Meanwhile, another French company called Brain created a arcade style prototype called Cyber Cup that’s being formally launched throughout France as we speak, but was first showcased a few months ago at a cyber security conference in Vegas, where Popper was able to take one and bring it to the National Cyber Security conference in Florida to showcase to the North American market, before ending up in Winnipeg.

“It’s a game, you have three lives, and you play and compete with all your coworkers, and this is a subset of a much larger solution that is neuroscience-based, so it’s using neuroscience and gamification to deliver the training.”

Popper says while the Cyber Cup machine is the first of its kind in Canada, he believes this concept including the board game will continue changing how people view cyber security training but does say for now it needs to be used in addition to the current training offered by schools, organizations, and businesses, and not as a fix-all.