The Digital Dark Alley: Teaching Cybersecurity Like Fire Safety by Building Cyber Habits That Sti...
0Jemma Davis, founder of Culture Gem and a security behavior and culture transformation consultant, brings a deeply human approach to cybersecurity in this compelling episode. Her mission is simple yet powerful: make cybersecurity understandable and actionable for everyone—including her Nan. If her Nan can get it, anyone can.
This episode challenges the perception that security is primarily a technical domain. Davis argues that real resilience starts with people, not blinking lights or shiny boxes. Too often, security messaging is shrouded in jargon, acronyms, and fear—an approach that isolates the very people it aims to protect. Davis instead emphasizes practical education through relatable stories, real-life consequences, and everyday analogies, such as the “digital dark alley” and the importance of recognizing a cyber threat like we would recognize the sound of a smoke alarm.
She critiques the current imbalance in cybersecurity budgets—where less than 1% goes to human-focused initiatives—and underscores the cost of that neglect. From supply chains disrupted by a phishing email to everyday citizens targeted in scams, Davis points out that people aren’t just the problem; they’re the frontline defenders. She calls for cultural shifts in organizations that reframe security from a compliance checkbox to a personal and collective responsibility.
A particularly powerful part of the conversation addresses the failure to reach young people early. With just one hour of cybersecurity education per year in UK primary schools, Davis sees a missed opportunity to build a new generation of security-minded citizens. She shares her admiration for children’s book author Wendy Goucher and proposes public campaigns akin to “Smokey the Bear” or “Ask for Angela” to normalize cybersecurity awareness from childhood.
Davis doesn’t just highlight the gaps—she shares a vision for fixing them. One that includes marketing, storytelling, and empathy. Because when people understand how cybersecurity affects them personally, they don’t just comply—they care.
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Guest: Jemma Davis, Founder and CEO. Security Behaviour and Culture Change Consultant, Culture Gem | https://www.linkedin.com/in/infosecjem/
Hosts:
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/
Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com/
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Episode Sponsors
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Resources
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KEYWORDS
jemma davis, marco ciappelli, cybersecurity, behavior, education, culture, awareness, storytelling, infosecurity europe, training, event coverage, on location, conference