Nominations have opened for the annual Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards, recognising the all-too-often unnoticed efforts of Britain’s most extraordinary cyber security professionals.
Run by Eskenzi PR, which specialises in representing cyber companies, the awards – now in their 10th year – are being sponsored by CultureAI, OneAdvanced and The Zensory, with support from others including Computer Weekly, which this year will be represented on the judging panel for the first time.
The awards are designed to celebrate not only the security professionals and crime fighters holding things down on the front lines, but also the educators who develop the next generation of British security talent, the mentors who support others in the field, the activists working to make cyber security a more diverse and inclusive profession, and the mental health experts tackling burnout in the trade.
This year, the awards also introduce three new categories:
- Cyber Scribe – recognising the contribution of bloggers on platforms such as LinkedIn, Medium and Substack, and producers of independent newsletters.
- Voice of Security – recognising the work of cyber podcasters and YouTubers.
- Channel Champion – recognising cyber distributors, managed service providers and resellers going above and beyond in the business of selling cyber.
“As we celebrate the 10th year of the Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards, I’m incredibly proud of what these awards have come to represent. Over the past decade, we’ve had the privilege of recognising hundreds of remarkable people whose dedication, kindness and expertise have helped make our industry stronger, safer and more inclusive,” said Yvonne Eskenzi, co-founder and director of Eskenzi PR.
“I encourage everyone across the cyber security community to take a moment to nominate a colleague, mentor, teammate or friend who deserves to be recognised. Their contribution matters, and together we can make sure their achievements are celebrated as part of this very special milestone year.”
CultureAI chief risk officer (CRO) Sam Soares added: “CultureAI is proud to support the 10th Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards, celebrating the cyber security professionals who protect their organisations without fanfare, even as the threat, technology and governance landscapes shift.
“As AI adoption outpaces governance, these teams are absorbing an entirely new category of risk alongside everything they already carry. Recognising that work is long overdue, and we’re pleased to play a part in it,” said Soares.
Nominations will remain open until 5.00pm on 16 September 2026, with the awards presentation to take place in October during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The awards remain free to enter – and to attend.
This year’s categories are:
- Cyber Correspondent (for cyber journalists, broadcasters and writers)
- Godparent of Security
- Data Guardian
- CISO Supremo
- Security Avengers – Best Team
- Best Educator
- Best Ethical Hacker/Pentester
- Rising Star
- Security Mentor
- Best Security Awareness Campaign
- Diversity Champion
- Cyber Security Wellbeing Advocate
- Cyber Scribe
- Voice of Security
- Channel Champion
More information on the awards and the nomination process can be found here.
