Cybersecurity Workshop Recap
Cybersecurity Workshop Recap
October 29, 2025 | Hosted by the Information Services Support Group (ISSG)
Trick or Threats
On October 29, MnCCC's Information Services Support Group hosted their annual Cybersecurity Workshop. Staff from local and state government entities across Minnesota gathered for a festive and informative workshop.
The Ransomware Room
Presented by FRSecure
The day began with FRSecure hosting "The Ransomware Room", where participants explored how cyber attackers successfully gain access to systems and deceive users, with a focus on real-world tactics and prevention strategies. Attendees then put their skills to the test in a fun and challenging cybersecurity escape room, where they followed clues to escape a simulated breach. They used their devices to navigate a series of puzzles in a capture-the-flag format, competing against each other to win prizes. The workshop ended with a lock-picking exercise to illustrate the physical aspect of security threats. It was a great opportunity to sharpen their cyber skills in an engaging, hands-on environment!
Strengthening Local Government Security
Presented by MNIT
In this informative session, attendees learned about the evolving cyber threat landscape and gained valuable insights into how attackers are targeting local government systems. The presentaiton covered the latest tactics, trends, and metrics used by bad actors, with a focus on threats to specific public sector entities. The session focused on common attack methods, best practices for incident response, how to connect with the right resources, and MNIT's cybersecurity services that can support local governments in protecting their environments. This session emphasized the importance of proactive planning, cross-agency collaboration, and leveraging state-provided resources to strengthen their defenses.
Attendee Feedback
Each year, we request feedback from attendees to ensure we're continuing to offer relevant, entertaining, and necessary training opportunities. Below is a high-level summary of feedback from attendees.
How satisfied were you with today's workshop?
Attendees rated the workshop on a likert scale from "Very Satisfied" (scored as 5) to "Very Dissatisfied" (scored as 1). The average rating was 4.4/5.
How would you rate the following aspects of the workshop?
Attendees rated the following aspects on a likert scale from "Excellent" (scored as 5) to "Very Bad" (scored as 1). Averge responses for each aspect are listed below.
- Event Organization: 4.7
- Content and Activities: 4.4
- Speakers/Presenters: 4.5
- Food: 4.8
What did you enjoy most about today?
Attendees were given the option to provide open-ended responses. The majority of responses highlighted how attendees overwhelmingly enjoyed the event, describing it as fun, engaging, and highly interactive. The Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge stood out as a favorite, calling it a "refreshing change of pace" and "a good hands-on opportunity". A few noted some frustration with some of the answer formatting or their inability to access the game due to security restrictions (oh, the irony!). Attendees liked the puzzle-style cyber challenges and AI-based activities because they allowed participants to have an experience that tested different skills and knowledge. The "Escape Room" aspect with lock-picking added a unique and memorable twist. Additional highlights included the quality of the food and the event’s authentic, less commercialized atmosphere. Overall, participants appreciated the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, and the workshop was commended for its interactivity.
Thank you for responding!
Attendees were given the opportunity to win prizes by submitting feedback. Congratulations to Dan Weber (Chisago), Bradley Budnick (Winona), Ben Matheny (Otter Tail), Nim Machoka (Ramsey), and Jason Perez (Ramsey). We love giving back to those who support ISSG!
Want to Attend in the Future?
ISSG offers this event annually on the last Wednesday in October. They also offer a virtual workshop in or around April of each year. Stay connected with ISSG on RSVP to get all the latest meeting and event updates!