Entry Requirements

  • Individual entrants must be working in the UK
  • Entrants for organisations must be working in or carrying out work in the UK. Their products or services must be available for purchase in the UK market. 
  • Entrants can nominate themselves. 
  • Entrants can nominate other individuals or organisations, however their relationship must be disclosed and evidence referenced.
  • Entrants can enter multiple awards however must offer unique answers for each entry.

Event Timeline

Entries Open: 2nd March 2026

Entries Close: 5th June 2026

Finalists Announced: Week commencing 27th July 2026

Finalist Event: 12th August 2026

Award Ceremony: 28th September 2026, The Royal Lancaster, London.

Entry Questions

Please contact info@thenationalcyberawards.org

Cyber Industry 

This category recognises individuals, teams and organisations who are driving progress and innovation within the cyber industry. It celebrates professionals whose skills, leadership, and commitment across various sectors are helping to advance the field and protect the digital landscape.

We encourage green cyber initiatives and inclusive cyber practices to be showcased within entries.

This award recognises exceptional contributions to the protection and resilience of the UK's Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). It honours individuals, teams, or organisations that have demonstrated excellence in safeguarding the systems and services essential to the nation’s security and well-being.

Vendors may submit a joint entry, provided the partnered business or public sector organisation remains the primary focus of the submission.

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  • Must provide evidence to support nomination.
  • Must detail how your individuals, teams or organisation has gone above and beyond the ordinary realms of protecting CNI.
  • Must be working with key stakeholders e.g government agencies, private sector partners, or industry bodies to protect CNI at the time of nomination.

An open award to any individual or team that operates within the financial services sector. This includes accountancy firms, banks, and financial teams within B2B or B2C organisations.
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  • Must highlight achievements from within the last 12 months.
  • Must be operating within the UK.

This award recognises an outstanding cybersecurity team that exemplifies excellence across risk management, governance, security culture, incident response, threat management or technical operations. This can be an in-house team, a consultancy team, or a specific project team.

It celebrates teams demonstrating exceptional collaboration, visionary leadership, sustainable growth, and meaningful contributions to the cybersecurity industry.

Vendors may submit a joint entry, provided the supported business or public sector organisation remains the primary focus of the submission.
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  • Evidence of company-wide success whether this be via revenue, company culture, contributions to the industry. 
  • Showcase your team's dedication to the cyber industry, giving back and CSR.
  • Demonstrate the leadership of the team to further explain how this has led to positive outcomes for the business.
  • Provide testimonials/examples to support your entry.

An open award for any business, initiative, service or product that is innovative and ground breaking.
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  • Must have been in business for less than 5 years, have less than 50 people working at the organisation, and less than £2 million turnover/raised less than £5 million.
  • Demonstrate the company's impact on the market. Highlight any achievements to date.
  • Provide evidence of how leadership has driven the organisation's vision for the future. Can be qualitative or quantitative data.
  • Describe the efforts the company is taking to embed itself within the cyber community and drive longevity in its future.

An open award to any charity or not for profit organisation for work in protecting citizens online.
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  • Able to demonstrate how your organisation addresses critical cybersecurity issues, including details of projects or initiatives, the social impact of your initiative, their intended impact on your community, and tangible outcomes (with supporting evidence).
  • Open to registered charity or not-for-profit organisations focused on enhancing cybersecurity for societal benefit.

Managed Service Providers (MSP) in the UK acting as ongoing outsourced IT departments. Their primary focus lies in managing and monitoring an institution’s IT infrastructure, for example security systems, network devices, software, and data backups. This award recognises a Managed Service Provider offering an innovative approach to the management of a customer's information technology (IT) infrastructure and end-user systems, such as servers, networks, storage, and cloud infrastructure.
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  • To be eligible, MSPs must demonstrate that the products or services they provide include cybersecurity as part of their overall service provision.
  • Provide two client testimonials to support your entry.

A cybersecurity consultancy typically offering specialised expertise and guidance on cybersecurity strategy, risk and compliance and technical solutions, working on specific projects and providing recommendations. Consultants working for these organisations often have deep technical knowledge and help organisations identify vulnerabilities, mitigate risks, and improve their overall security posture.

This award recognises the contribution made by a small-medium consultancy, (maximum 5 security-dedicated employees) or an organisation with an integrated division (maximum 5 security-dedicated employees), offering services or solutions (not products) enabling clients to identify problems, through evaluating security issues, assessing risk, and implementing solutions to address vulnerabilities, in a company's computer networks and computer systems.
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  • Demonstrate that cybersecurity is an integral part of your overall service provision by outlining the cyber security services your organisation provides. 
  • Provide two testimonials to support your entry.

A cybersecurity consultancy typically offering specialised expertise and guidance on cybersecurity strategy, risk and compliance and technical solutions, working on specific projects and providing recommendations. Consultants working for these organisations often have deep technical knowledge and help organisations identify vulnerabilities, mitigate risks, and improve their overall security posture.

This award recognises the contribution made by an Enterprise Consultancy (minimum 10 security dedicated employees) or an organisation with an integrated division (minimum 10 security dedicated employees), offering services or solutions (not products) enabling clients to identify problems, through evaluating security issues, assessing risk, and implementing solutions to address vulnerabilities, in a company's computer networks and computer systems.

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  • Demonstrate that cybersecurity is an integral part of your overall service provision by outlining cyber security services provided.
  • Provide two testimonials to support your entry.

This award recognises outstanding contributions from professional services organisations including law firms, insurers, and related advisory firms that have demonstrated excellence in supporting the cybersecurity ecosystem. It celebrates organisations that combine sector expertise with innovative approaches to managing cyber risk, protecting clients, and enhancing overall cyber resilience.
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  • Demonstrates measurable impact in improving cybersecurity for clients, partners, or the wider sector. 
  • Exhibits leadership, innovation, and best practice in governance, risk management, and security strategy.

This award recognises a cybersecurity product or solution that has demonstrated significant impact since entering the market. Open to innovations of any scale, whether commercial or non-commercial, the award celebrates creativity, effectiveness, and the tangible difference the product has made in enhancing cyber resilience, security operations, or risk management.
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  • Evaluate the security challenges the product/solution is/could solve.
  • Demonstrate the USP of this product.
  • Be able to provide measurable data for your innovation.

Cyber Leaders 

This category highlights individuals making a significant impact in the cybersecurity industry. It recognises leaders, innovators, and rising stars whose dedication, expertise, and efforts are shaping the future of cyber.

We encourage green cyber initiatives and inclusive cyber practices to be showcased within entries.

An open award that aims to identify and honour individuals who not only excel in their current endeavors but also show promise for shaping the future of cybersecurity.
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  • Provide details of how your current role has impacted your colleagues and/or clients positively. 
  • Showcase your contributions so far to the cyber security community whether this be via speaking engagements, event attendance, thought leadership pieces, projects with peers. 
  • Display evidence of your dedication to the industry through providing information about your ongoing professional development. Talk about your future goals and how you plan to achieve them.

An open award to any individual, team or organisation who promote diversity and inclusivity either through reputation, product, or trading.
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  • Must be able to show the impact of initiatives (e.g., increased representation, inclusive hiring practices, advancing careers).
  • Must be able to show evidence of sustained commitment over time.

An open award, supported by Sir Dermot Turing, recognising a senior technical leader who has made a significant contribution to the digital safety of society.

This accolade honours those whose technical expertise, leadership, and strategic influence have advanced cyber resilience and strengthened the security of the digital ecosystem.

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  • Must be able to provide evidence of significant achievements in the cyber security field that have impacted a business or organisation positively. Evidence can be quantitative or qualitative. 
  • Provide detail around implementation of strategy, policy and procedures, and how this has fostered a strong security culture within an organisation. 
  • Provide details of leadership attributes.
  • Provide details of how communicating to a technical audience VS non-technical audiences are just as important as one another.
  • Showcase your contributions to the cyber industry as a whole.
  • Must be able to provide details of two personal references
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The Cyber Citizen of the Year Award is the most prestigious honour of the evening, recognising an individual who has made an outstanding and enduring contribution to the cyber sector.

Presented as a lifetime achievement accolade, this award is reserved for those who have demonstrated exceptional influence, leadership, and impact over the course of their career.

Nominations are able to be submitted for this award, alongside candidates put forward by our Advisory Board.

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  • Must be able to provide evidence of significant achievements in the cyber security field that have impacted a business or organisation positively. Evidence can be quantitative or qualitative.
  • Evidence of efforts to raise the profile and awareness of the cybersecurity industry, through initiatives such as speaking engagements, thought leadership, and educational programmes.
  • Provide details of leadership attributes. 
  • Show efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within the cyber industry. 
  • Must be able to demonstrate the nominee’s impact on the cyber industry throughout the last decade to be considered for this award.
  • Must be able to provide details of two personal references.
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Education & Skills 

This category honours those who champion cybersecurity education and learning, as well as those who are in education that have gone above and beyond who deserve recognition for their dedication to education in cyber.

It also recognises academic institutions and organisations who are driving innovation in teaching, training, or awareness initiatives that inspire and equip the next generation of cybersecurity talent.

We encourage green cyber initiatives and inclusive cyber practices to be showcased within entries.

An open award to anyone studying at a recognised educational Institution. Open to individuals aged 16+. Nominations are encouraged from those who are neurodiverse and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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  • Open to individuals aged 16+ currently enrolled in a UK academic institution (college or university) or a recognised training provider (including apprenticeships and bootcamp programmes).
  • Judges will look for a candidate who has gone above and beyond their standard curriculum within the last 12 months. Successful nominations should demonstrate:
    • Technical Aptitude: High performance in studies or certification exams. 
    • Practical Application: Involvement in capture the flags, hackathons, or personal research projects.
    • Community Spirit: Evidence of helping peers, sharing knowledge, or championing cyber safety.
  • Must include evidence such as project outcomes, certifications, testimonials from educators or mentors, or awards and recognitions that validate the student’s impact and potential.

This award recognises companies and internal teams that provide training and/or awareness programmes aimed at making staff more cyber aware and embedding strong cyber hygiene practices across the organisation. It also encompasses training and certification organisations that support Infosec professionals at all levels, from entry to expert.
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  • Open to organisations or internal teams delivering impactful cybersecurity training or awareness programmes in the UK.
  • Nominations should include any achievements from the last 12 months.
  • Demonstrate measurable outcomes such as improved security practices, increased awareness levels, or examinations completed. Provide supporting evidence to showcase that your offering has impacted the community you are providing it to - this can be in the form of participant feedback, case studies or other relevant examples.

This award recognises an outstanding individual or organisation that has made a significant impact in cybersecurity education and training.

The award honours innovative teaching approaches, measurable impact on learners, and a commitment to advancing cyber knowledge, skills, and awareness across all levels of education and professional development.

This award is open to educational institutions such as schools, universities, colleges, and specialised training organisations, as well as individuals within these organisations of this type who inspire, develop, and equip the pipeline of cyber talent.

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  • This award is open to academic institutions and training organisations, and does not have an age restriction on learners you as an educator are supporting. 
  • Be able to show a measurable impact on learners or trainees, including improvements in cyber knowledge, skills, or career outcomes. 
  • Must be able to show leadership in advancing cybersecurity education and awareness.

Public Sector 

This category recognises achievements in cybersecurity within the public sector and governance.

It honours individuals, initiatives, projects, or teams that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in protecting public services, infrastructure, and data. The category highlights efforts to enhance resilience, improve security protocols, and promote innovation in cybersecurity within government agencies and public institutions.

We encourage green cyber initiatives and inclusive cyber practices to be showcased within entries.

An open award for an outstanding individual in the Policing and Law Enforcement sector who has contributed to the Cyber and Online Safety space.
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  • Must be working for a Law Enforcement Agency at the time of nomination.
  • Must provide metrics or reports of public service impact to enhance nomination.

A closed award at the discretion of NHS England for any individual or team that has made a significant contribution to the cyber safety of the NHS.
This item is not available

Determined by the NHS

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An open award for an outstanding team in the Policing and Law Enforcement sector who has contributed to the Cyber and Online Safety space.
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  • Must be working for a Law Enforcement Agency at the time of nomination.
  • Must provide metrics or reports of public service impact to enhance nomination.

A closed award at the discretion of the National Police Chiefs Council for an individual or team who have made a significant contribution to the Cyber and Online Safety space.
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Determined by the National Police Chiefs Council

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A closed award designed for employees, contractors and partners of the National Crime Agency due to the sensitive and secret nature of their work.
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Determined by the National Crime Agency.

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A closed award at the discretion of the Ministry of Defence for an individual or team across the whole estate both military and civilian who have made a significant contribution to Cyber.
This item is not available

Determined by the Ministry of Defence.

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