OCT2
EdinburghPartner: Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland
● Upcoming MeetupSee It, Be It – Women and Girls in Cyber Conference 2026
Fri, 2 Oct 2026
🏴 Grassroots • Inclusive • High-Signal
Connecting Scotland's
Cyber Security Community
Cyber Scotland Connect (CSC) unites security practitioners, students, researchers, career switchers, and enthusiasts across Scotland. Free, volunteer-run, and grounded in practical defense.
★★★★★
4.8 / 5.0•300+ community ratings on MeetupNext Upcoming Gathering
Edinburgh Chapter · In-Person
CSC Edinburgh Meetup: Refactoring the Enterprise & UK Post-Quantum Cryptography
Thu, 8 Oct 2026(17:30 – 19:30 BST (Social from 19:30+))
High-Signal, Zero-Sales
Strict anti-pitch ban. Talks focus entirely on defensive architectures, operational detection engineering, threat intelligence, and hard lessons from real failures.
Radically Welcoming
Welcoming students, career-switchers, and seasoned leaders alike. Every venue audited for step-free mobility, induction hearing loops, and psychological safety.
Scotland-Wide Network
Coordinating quarterly gatherings in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and virtual livestreams to connect Scotland's regional cyber ecosystem.
Featured & Upcoming Events
Join our regular in-person meetups, virtual workshops, and collaborative partner summits.
OCT8
EdinburghCSC Gathering
● Upcoming MeetupCSC Edinburgh Meetup: Refactoring the Enterprise & UK Post-Quantum Cryptography
Thu, 8 Oct 2026(17:30 – 19:30 BST (Social from 19:30+))
Speakers:
- • Ash Hunt— "Refactoring the Enterprise"
- • Andrew Gravett— "UK Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) 2026 - State of the Nation Update"
Our Story & Origins
Forged by the Community, for the Community
Cyber Scotland Connect was formed through the merger of regional Scottish cyber meetups, co-founded by Harry McLaren and Stu Hirst, and announced on the keynote stage at DIGIT Expo.
Our emblem — The Fragmented Shield, designed by Sophie Lanc — represents individuals from across different disciplines, companies, academic universities, and regional towns assembling together to form a resilient collective shield.
Join 2,000+ Scottish Defenders
⭐ 4.8 rated community across 300+ reviews. Meetups take place quarterly in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee, complemented by livestreams and open Discord discussions.
RSVP for Next MeetupGrassroots Stewards
Volunteer with CSCCommunity Leadership & Organizers
Cyber Scotland Connect is steered entirely by passionate volunteer practitioners dedicated to open, accessible, and high-integrity knowledge exchange.
KG
Kevin Gray
Public Sector & Community Moderator
Scotland-wide
Information security leader within NHS Scotland, advising on critical healthcare cyber resilience and facilitating community speaker panels.
Kevin brings public sector and critical national infrastructure perspectives to the CSC moderation team, championing healthcare cybersecurity and knowledge sharing.
JR
James Ramirez
Community Moderator
Edinburgh
Security engineering specialist supporting community venue coordination, technical staging, and attendee welcomes across CSC Edinburgh meetups.
James supports on-the-ground event logistics, technical moderation, and welcoming attendees across Cyber Scotland Connect meetups.
MdJ
Magda de Jager
Founding Moderator
Edinburgh & Scotland-wide
Security operations specialist at N-able and founding moderator of CSC, championing diversity, psychological safety, and pathways into cybersecurity across Scotland.
Magda is a founding moderator who shaped Cyber Scotland Connect's culture of openness, psychological safety, and inclusivity from its very first meetup in 2019.
Harry McLaren
Co-Founder & Moderator
Edinburgh & Scotland-wide
Cyber security leader, community builder, and speaker passionate about collaborative defence, psychological safety, and making technology accessible to all.
Harry co-founded Cyber Scotland Connect to bridge regional silos and build a welcoming, inclusive space for Scottish security practitioners and learners.
GH
Gary Hunter
Community Moderator & Glasgow Chapter Lead
Glasgow & Edinburgh
Security operations leader at Trustpilot and dedicated community organiser, leading CSC Glasgow gatherings, mentoring newcomers, and supporting events across Scotland.
Gary co-organises CSC West Coast meetups and regularly moderates interactive community panels, ensuring a welcoming space for Scottish security practitioners.
RM
Rich Macfarlane
Academic Lead & Community Moderator
Edinburgh & Dundee
Associate Professor, Director of the NCSC Centre of Excellence, and Senior Teaching Fellow at Edinburgh Napier University.
Rich bridges Scottish higher education with industry, nurturing student hacker communities, leading technical workshops, and connecting graduates with careers.
BH
Ben Haine
Community Moderator
Edinburgh
Grassroots security enthusiast supporting CSC venue check-ins, event preparation, attendee welcomes, and community logistics.
Ben contributes volunteer energy, event check-in coordination, and logistical assistance across Cyber Scotland Connect meetups.
RG
Richard Grey
Community Moderator
Edinburgh
Identity and access management specialist at Bright Group, longtime moderator supporting CSC volume gatherings, panel discussions, and community logistics.
Richard provides essential moderation, technical support, and community coordination across Cyber Scotland Connect gatherings.
JA
Joshua Adegoke
Community Moderator
Scotland-wide
Cybersecurity professional supporting community inclusion, digital literacy, and student engagement across Scotland.
Joshua supports community outreach, digital literacy, and fostering connections between students and industry practitioners across Scotland.
Stu Hirst
Co-Founder & Moderator
Scotland-wide
Chief Information Security Officer and seasoned security community leader with decades of experience guiding enterprise security operations and mentoring practitioners.
Stu co-founded Cyber Scotland Connect following years of community organizing in Edinburgh and Glasgow, championing practical security and open collaboration.
Sophie Lanc
Brand Lead & Community Moderator
Scotland-wide
Creative designer and visual strategist who created the CSC Fragmented Shield brand identity and lookbook.
Sophie shaped the visual identity, brand guidelines, and aesthetic foundations of Cyber Scotland Connect.
Pay It Forward•Tickets: Always £0
Keeping Cyber Scotland Connect Accessible for Everyone
Cyber Scotland Connect has always been, and will always be, 100% free to attend. We believe that financial barriers to entry—especially for students, career switchers, and those currently seeking new opportunities—should be nonexistent.
If you are established in your career and find value in our gatherings, we invite you to Pay It Forward. While there is zero obligation, contributions to our Buy Me a Coffee page help cover essential running costs—refreshments and minor community infrastructure—ensuring that everyone in Scotland's cyber community can continue to participate at no cost.
Pay It Forward
Support CSC refreshments and accessibility with a community coffee.
Support on Buy Me a CoffeeOur Partners & Supporters
Generous venues, academic clusters, and community organizations that make CSC free for everyone.
Ecosystem PartnerVerified Partner
ScotlandIS Cyber Cluster
The membership organisation representing Scotland's digital technology ecosystem and Scottish Cyber Cluster.
SponsorVerified Partner
Cyera UK
AI-powered data security platform and valued sponsor supporting our Edinburgh gathering and community social.
Ecosystem PartnerVerified Partner
Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland
Dedicated to helping Scottish businesses and charities stay resilient against cyber crime and digital fraud.
Academic PartnerVerified Partner
Edinburgh Napier University
Home to pioneering cyber research, student societies, and longstanding venue collaboration with CSC.