Digital Preservation Advisory Unit

In recent decades, cybersecurity has become a core concern for any organisation that creates, stores, or relies on digital information. As workplaces increasingly depend on digital systems for everyday operations, the security and resilience of data has become critical to business continuity, trust, and operational integrity.

Across sectors — including public services, education, healthcare, corporate environments, research, and cultural institutions — organisations face growing risks such as ransomware, unauthorised access, accidental deletion, data corruption, and system failure. These threats can compromise confidentiality, disrupt services, and result in the permanent loss or manipulation of valuable information.

This hands-on workshop introduces participants to key cybersecurity concepts and practical strategies for protecting digital assets. It is designed for professionals responsible for maintaining or safeguarding organisational data and digital assets, regardless of technical background (data and records managers, data stewards, digital archivists, digital preservationists, information managers, and more).

Participants will learn how to recognise common threats, apply practical safeguards using accessible tools and approaches, and understand the basic operational steps involved in responding to security incidents within real-world organisational workflows. The session also provides guidance for effective communication with IT/security teams.

The goal is not to turn participants into cybersecurity specialists or “ethical hackers,” but to develop informed professionals who can support organisational digital resilience and communicate effectively with technical security teams.

Workshop Activities

• Conceptual Overview: Core cybersecurity principles and common cybersecurity threats affecting organisational digital assets
• Fixity Checking and Triage: Creating and verifying checksums, identifying integrity failures to detect corruption, loss, or unauthorised change
• Encryption and Decryption: Encrypting and decrypting collection materials using open-source tools
• Incident Response Planning: Working through a simulated ransomware scenario to identify immediate actions, recovery strategies, and documentation needs

Workshop Location - Online
Workshop Timings - 12:00 - 16:30

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are there discounted places available? 
Yes, we are able to evaluate cases for discounted places, particularly for participants from Official Development Assistance (ODA) countries. Please email digitalpreservation@soton.ac.uk with a brief note on your situation and we will offer you a discounted ticket. 

Can I pay via invoice or purchase order? 
We ask that you please attempt to use the online store to issue payments wherever possible. If you do require an invoice, please send us an email at digitalpreservation@soton.ac.uk with plenty of advance so we can get the process started for you.

Payment using the Online Store can only be completed via Visa and Mastercard Credit/Debit Card or PayPal.  AMEX is not accepted.
If you have not previously created an account for the Online Store, you will need to create an account to make a booking.

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