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DENA & FUTURE ENERGY LAB
Cybersecurity Learning Formats

dena and Future Energy Lab saw that member companies were not sharing cybersecurity lessons learned, losing out on valuable insights and efficiency, so they asked the German Informatics Society to research why knowledge exchange is so hard.

WHAT WE DID

Based on those findings, we selected and partly developed new learning formats, then tested them live at an event — including a conference game co-designed with the Federal Office for Information Security. The live test was observed and followed up by the independent research team.

THE RESULTS

Participants tried out multiple learning formats, discovered new ways to exchange knowledge and opinions and especially loved the conference game that turned a regulatory maze into a collaborative team challenge.

THE
TAKE-AWAYS

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Abstract geometric shapes in light purple and dark blue on a black background.
An abstract geometric design with overlapping shapes in shades of blue and black.

DIGITAL EXERCISE TOOL

GAME DESIGN

COACHING

“The cooperative structure motivates participants to work together. "Joker" roles, in which everyone can support the team with their knowledge, increase the perception of competence. Freedom of choice during the game supports the perceived autonomy.”

A woman giving a presentation at a conference in a modern, well-lit room with large windows. There is an audience seated, some taking notes or photos. On the screen behind her, a slide with German text reads 'ENTSCHEIDUNGEN UNTER STROM' which translates to 'Decisions During Power'.

Authors of Study
“Gemeinsam lernen – Lern- und Austauschformate zu Cybersicherheit in der Energiewirtschaft”

Three women sitting at a table, looking at their smartphones, with coffee cups and a coffee pot on the table, in a professional setting.

The catalogue (EN) showcases the learning formats and how you can implement them yourself.

commissioned and published by German Energy Agency dena and Future Energy Lab for the energy sector specific exchange platform. The project was implemented by German Informatics Society and Cyber Policy Haus.

Line drawing of a conference room with people seated around tables, a speaker at a podium, and presentation equipment, representing a meeting or training session.
Close-up of a hand interacting with a purple mobile app screen on a smartphone. The app is in German, asking about roles in a cyber-mission in energy sector, with options for tech and IT architecture.
A group of people sitting in a panel discussion or meeting, including a woman talking, a man with gray hair, and others listening.
A man in a gray suit and white shirt speaking into a microphone while pointing at a whiteboard filled with handwritten notes in German during a presentation.

The study (DE) explains challenges with cross-company learning and evaluates the chosen formats in addressing them.

commissioned and published by German Energy Agency dena and Future Energy Lab for the energy sector specific exchange platform. The project was implemented by German Informatics Society and Cyber Policy Haus.

Cover page of a report titled 'Gemeinsam lernen – Lern- und Austauschformate zu Cybersicherheit in der Energiewirtschaft' by Future Energy Lab, a project by dena, featuring geometric design elements in purple and teal.

THE KITCHEN CREW

JULIA SCHUETZE
Cyber Policy Haus / Exercise Designer & Facilitator

HA THANH THU NGUYEN
Cyber Policy Haus / Information Design

LINDA SCHWARZ
German Informatics Society / Lead Researcher

MARIEKE PETERSEN
German Informatics Society / Scientific Supervision

FRIEDERIKE WENDEROTH
dena / Team Lead.

MARIUS DECHAND
dena / Facilitator

LUKAS HUTTNY
dena / Support

STEFAN SÜTTERLIN
Hochschule Albstadt-Sigmaringen / Researcher

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“For all learning formats, participants overwhelmingly agreed that they would recommend these formats. We therefore assume that these formats were not just a pleasant change from familiar learning formats. Instead, they can help participants expand their skills and gain new insights.”

Authors of Study
“Gemeinsam lernen – Lern- und Austauschformate zu Cybersicherheit in der Energiewirtschaft”