Make Cybersecurity Fun: Host Your Own Security-Themed Hackathon

Developers often hear about cybersecurity in the abstract, but rarely get hands-on experience unless something breaks in production. To make security learning less dry and intimidating, we organized a jeopardy-style CTF hackathon at our software consultancy company. We created engaging puzzles and added some friendly competition — and it turned into one of the most effective (and fun) ways to get people thinking about security.

In this lightning talk I’ll share how we planned it, how we designed challenges that feel natural for backend developers, and what we learned along the way. You’ll leave with a practical blueprint for running your own security-themed hackathon that boosts awareness and gets developers genuinely excited about the topic.