London, UK – 18th September 2026 –Eskenzi PR, the cybersecurity PR agency, are pleased to announce that Filigran, the European open-source threat management company, has joined as a sponsor for this year’s Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards. Filigran joins CultureAI, OneAdvanced and The Zensory as sponsors of this year’s event. With the help of these sponsors, the Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards remain free to enter and to attend, setting it apart from other industry awards.
The awards are also supported by media partners Computer Weekly, Information Security Buzz and the IT Security Guru, as well as industry partners including Pulse Conferences and, most recently, CyberASAP.
CyberASAP (Cyber Security Academic Start-Up Accelerator Programme), which is funded by the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and delivered by Innovate UK, has also become a supporter of the event to coincide with the launch of a brand-new category: Best Academic Entrepreneur. This category celebrates the academics who have taken bold ideas beyond the research environment and turned them into viable, real-world businesses. In 2026, CyberASAP turns 10 years old. Over the past decade, alumni from the programme have raised £75m in follow-on investment, resulting in 45 cyber companies, multiple acquisitions and licences to industry.
Emma Fadlon and Robin Kennedy, Co-Directors of CyberASAP, said, “We’re really excited to be supporting this new award category, highlighting the vital role that academics can play in the cyber innovation ecosystem. Equipping them to commercialise their research and flourish in the market is what our programme is all about.”
Filigran helps security teams cut through cyber noise, understand the threats that matter and continuously validate their defences through its extended threat management (XTM) platform. “As a company built around open-source technology and community, Filigran is proud to support the Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards and celebrate the individuals whose work, collaboration and expertise make a real difference to cybersecurity every day,” said Cindy Valladeres, Head of Brand, Community, and Communications at Filigran.
The Security Serious Unsung Heroes highlight the exceptional talent within the UK’s cybersecurity community, recognising professionals who excel in their field, often without recognition. From frontline defenders and innovative leaders to educators nurturing future talent, these awards celebrate those making a difference. The focus extends beyond technical expertise, honouring individuals championing diversity and promoting employee wellbeing within the industry. By recognising these contributions, the awards aim to elevate the cybersecurity sector and inspire future achievements.
Nominees, nominators, and their guests are then invited to a celebratory evening hosted on the 20th of October 2026 at St Barts Brewery in London to coincide with Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Clive Room, Director at Pulse Conferences, which are also event partners, will join Yvonne Eskenzi as the evening’s compère.
Entries are now open, which includes filling in a short form detailing why the person deserves the award. Nominations will remain open until 5 pm on the 23rd of September 2026, before closing for review by an esteemed panel of judges.
The awards are judged by an esteemed panel of respected industry figures. So far judges include:
- Yvonne Eskenzi, Director of Eskenzi PR
- Alex Scroxton, Editor at Computer Weekly
- Sam Soares, CRO at CultureAI
- Joe Pettit, Managing Director at Bora
- Emma Fadlon, Director of CyberASAP
- Beth Maundrill, Editor of Infosecurity Magazine
- Clive Room, Director at Pulse Conferences
- Stuart Coulson, Director of HiddenText
- Holly Foxcroft, Cyber Security Business Partner and BISO at OneAdvanced
“Cybersecurity is ultimately powered by people. Behind every new defence, disrupted attack and protected organisation are individuals working tirelessly to make the digital world safer. Yet, amid the constant focus on new threats and technological innovation, their contributions can too often go unrecognised,” said Yvonne Eskenzi, Co-Founder and Director at Eskenzi PR. “The Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards shine a much-deserved spotlight on these remarkable people and give us an opportunity to celebrate the passion, commitment and expertise that make the cybersecurity community so special.”
Categories this year include:
- 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
- Cybersecurity Wellbeing Advocate
- Cyber Scribe (for blogs/newsletters)
- Voice of Security (for podcasts/vodcasts)
- Channel Champion
- Best Academic Entrepreneur
For more information, visit: https://www.eskenzipr.com/security-serious-unsung-heroes-awards/
To nominate, visit: https://www.eskenzipr.com/security-serious-unsung-heroes-awards/nominate/
The opinions expressed in this post belong to the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Information Security Buzz.