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Overview
This workshop provides a research-driven, human-centred approach to developing cybersecurity leadership and multi-team collaboration skills. Built on more than 56,000 hours of global social-behavioural research, including projects funded by the US Department of Homeland Security and multiple European governments, the programme gives participants practical tools to improve communication, motivation, decision-making, and teamwork in high-stakes cybersecurity environments.
Over two days, learners explore the dynamics that shape multi-team systems, examine how mindset and behaviour influence collaboration, and practise adaptive techniques through expert-facilitated exercises. The workshop strengthens the ability to lead and contribute effectively across cybersecurity teams, applying evidence-based frameworks to improve clarity, trust, resilience, and alignment during routine operations and crisis situations.
CPD points can be claimed for NCSC assured training courses at the rate of 1 point per hour of training (upto a maximum of 15 points).
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this workshop. Participants from all cybersecurity functions and experience levels can attend. Customised sessions are available for private bookings.
Target audience
This workshop is designed for individuals and teams working across cybersecurity functions, including:
- Cybersecurity team leaders
- Multi-team coordination leads
- Incident response personnel
- Cybersecurity professionals seeking to improve collaboration skills
- It is particularly valuable for multi-team systems aiming to strengthen alignment between leaders and the teams they support.
Delegates will learn how to
By the end of this workshop, learners will be able to:
- Describe the structure and behavioural dynamics of multi-team systems in cybersecurity contexts.
- Recognise how mindset, tone, emotional responses, and presence influence collaboration, trust, and decision-making.
- Identify pain points in inter-team communication and reduce friction during joint operations.
- Apply techniques for proactive leadership, intentional alignment, and structured strategic conversations.
- Use evidence-based frameworks such as Autonomy, Belonging, Competence to analyse and strengthen team motivation.
- Map interactions during routine and crisis situations to understand barriers, dependencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Flex communication styles during high-pressure discussions and adapt messaging for different stakeholders.
- Practise collaborative problem-solving, perspective sharing, and boundary-spanning to support decision-making across teams.
- Facilitate shared understanding, reduce assumptions, and enable solutions to emerge collectively rather than through control.
- Apply tools and techniques that support systemic alignment, accountability, and coordinated response within complex environments.
Outline
Day 1 – The mindset of cybersecurity leadership and multi-team collaboration
Focus: Raising awareness
Key concepts
- Understanding multi-team system dynamics and how mindset shapes behaviour and outcomes
- Exploring how presence, tone, and emotional reactions build or erode trust
- Recognising how individual influence can reduce friction and prevent unintended disruption
- Creating space for structured shared strategy sessions to reinforce alignment and team motivation
- Technical skill as necessary but insufficient without clarity, consistency, and communication
Learning activities
- Mapping multi-team interactions across routine and crisis operations
- Identifying pain points in collaboration between teams
- Practising the sharing, taking, and mapping of perspectives to build awareness
- Using the Autonomy, Belonging, Competence framework to analyse motivational barriers
- Exploring communication styles, flexing behaviours under pressure, and adjusting approach
- Facilitated discussions and experiential exercises to disrupt default approaches and introduce new perspectives
Day 2 – The mechanics of cybersecurity leadership and multi-team collaboration
Focus: Applying tools and strategies
Key concepts
- Creating space for collaborative solutions rather than providing all the answers
- Encouraging shared understanding through exploration rather than control
- Recognising that initial interpretations may be incomplete during crisis response
- Aligning communication, decision-making, and accountability frameworks as complexity increases
- Negotiating priorities across individual, team, and system-wide goals
- Leading across multi-team systems by informing, persuading, aligning, and mobilising stakeholders
- Building a coalition of the willing to support shared organisational priorities
Learning activities
- Practising adaptive techniques for brainstorming, decision-making, and idea refinement
- Prioritising goals across individual, team, and multi-team levels
- Flexing communication styles to build buy-in through structured storytelling
- Boundary-spanning exercises to share perspectives and coordinate across teams
- Applying tools that reinforce alignment and collaboration within multi-team systems
- Facilitated group exercises mirroring real-world cybersecurity decision flows
Exam and assessments
This course does not include any formal assessments.
Hands-on learning
This workshop, as delivered at Black Hat, uses an experiential, sandbox-style approach grounded in research on CSIRTs and cybersecurity teams. Participants use analogue tools to test new strategies, practise communication methods, explore team dynamics, and reinforce behaviours that transfer directly to the workplace. Exercises are intentionally low-stakes, allowing space to experiment, reflect, and learn from expert facilitators.
About the subject matter experts
Dr Daniel Shore is a workplace psychology specialist with extensive experience supporting multi-team systems in complex, unpredictable environments. His expertise in cybersecurity leadership is grounded in a multi-year research programme funded by the US Department of Homeland Security and multiple European governments. He applies a human-centred approach to improving collaboration, motivation, and performance across cybersecurity teams.
Zac Broomfield is an expert in communication, collaboration, and multi-team development with a decade of experience designing training programmes and coaching leaders. He brings a practical approach to helping diverse teams improve performance, strengthen relationships, and develop shared understanding. Both Dr Shore and Zac Broomfield are co-founders of MultiTeam Solutions and deliver this training to cybersecurity professionals globally.
Frequently asked questions
How can I create an account on myQA.com?
There are a number of ways to create an account. If you are a self-funder, simply select the "Create account" option on the login page.
If you have been booked onto a course by your company, you will receive a confirmation email. From this email, select "Sign into myQA" and you will be taken to the "Create account" page. Complete all of the details and select "Create account".
If you have the booking number you can also go here and select the "I have a booking number" option. Enter the booking reference and your surname. If the details match, you will be taken to the "Create account" page from where you can enter your details and confirm your account.
Find more answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQs: Bookings & Cancellations page.
How do QA’s virtual classroom courses work?
Our virtual classroom courses allow you to access award-winning classroom training, without leaving your home or office. Our learning professionals are specially trained on how to interact with remote attendees and our remote labs ensure all participants can take part in hands-on exercises wherever they are.
We use the WebEx video conferencing platform by Cisco. Before you book, check that you meet the WebEx system requirements and run a test meeting to ensure the software is compatible with your firewall settings. If it doesn’t work, try adjusting your settings or contact your IT department about permitting the website.
How do QA’s online courses work?
QA online courses, also commonly known as distance learning courses or elearning courses, take the form of interactive software designed for individual learning, but you will also have access to full support from our subject-matter experts for the duration of your course. When you book a QA online learning course you will receive immediate access to it through our e-learning platform and you can start to learn straight away, from any compatible device. Access to the online learning platform is valid for one year from the booking date.
All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.
When will I receive my joining instructions?
Joining instructions for QA courses are sent two weeks prior to the course start date, or immediately if the booking is confirmed within this timeframe. For course bookings made via QA but delivered by a third-party supplier, joining instructions are sent to attendees prior to the training course, but timescales vary depending on each supplier’s terms. Read more FAQs.
When will I receive my certificate?
Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.