HOOP Cyber at CSIDES Weston-super-Mare: Where Coastal Communities Meets Cyber Security
HOOP Cyber’s Head of Communication, Lisa Ventura MBE FCIIS, attended CSIDES, the UK’s first coastal cyber security conference on 3 October 2025 at the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare. Here is her review of this groundbreaking event.
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What a brilliant day I had at CSIDES! Organised by the wonderful team at Defend Together CIC – Hazel McPherson and Jess Matthews – this wasn’t just another cyber conference. It was a statement: cyber security belongs to everyone, everywhere.
Why CSIDES Matters
For too long, our industry has been centred around London and big cities, leaving coastal communities feeling left behind. Standing on the iconic Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare, looking out at the Bristol Channel, I felt emotional about what this event represented. This was world-class cyber security expertise brought directly to the community with accessible pricing, inclusive content, and a genuine commitment to making cyber security understandable for everyone, from schoolchildren to small business owners to career changers.
Outstanding Talks
Gary Hibberd’s presentation using Star Wars to explain security concepts was an absolute masterclass. From the Death Star’s vulnerability to Jedi mind tricks illustrating social engineering, he made complex concepts memorable and fun.
Holly Foxcroft delivered one of the most important talks of the day on how cyber security culture can become our biggest vulnerability. Her insights on neurodiversity in cyber were particularly powerful, reminding us that culture isn’t soft – culture is security.
Nikki Webb’s presentation on sextortion was the hardest to sit through but absolutely vital. Her emphasis on how victims are people, not systems, was a powerful reminder that cyber security must be about protecting people first.
Scott Eggins brilliantly demystified cyber threat intelligence, showing how even small businesses can benefit from understanding the threat landscape. His emphasis on community intelligence sharing perfectly embodied what CSIDES represents.
Joseph Ross delivered a timely talk on Shadow AI, highlighting how unsanctioned AI usage creates significant vulnerabilities. His practical guidance was perfectly aligned with CSIDES’ mission to build cyber resilience in underserved communities.
Cyber’s Got Talent
The evening’s entertainment was a wonderful, unexpected addition. Hosted by the amazing Jemma Davies from Culture Gem, Cyber’s Got Talent was a brilliant celebration that showcased our industry’s creative talent. I was incredibly nervous about performing my poem “The Cyber Security Blues”, written especially for the occasion. Coming joint fourth with James Bore’s hilarious stand-up comedy routine felt like winning! This event reminded us that we’re a community of humans first; we’re dancers, poets, comedians, musicians, and artists as well as cyber security professionals.
Personal Highlights
Beyond the excellent talks, CSIDES was about community. Catching up with colleagues I hadn’t seen for ages, enjoying fish and chips on the Grand Pier, receiving some of the best conference swag I’ve ever seen (complete with Weston-super-Mare rock!), and taking away practical knowledge I could immediately apply in my day to day work, these moments made the day truly special.
The Future Is Coastal
CSIDES was more than a conference, it was a movement. The energy throughout the day was incredible, with genuine curiosity, enthusiastic networking, and that sense of being part of something special. This is what inclusive cyber security looks like: taking world-class expertise directly to the people who need it most.
Heartfelt congratulations to the entire CSIDES team. You’ve set a brilliant example for the industry, and I sincerely hope this becomes an annual event that other coastal communities can replicate.
