VILLAGE OF VILLAGES
IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
DistrictCon is proud to collaborate with the above Villages, and with the Atlantic Council Cyber Statecraft Initiative, on the following policy paper.
TL;DR - Villages are an underutilized resource for policymakers who want to understand and make change in cyber security.
A subset of these villages will be engaging in a Collaborative “Village of Villages” Exhibition and Tabletop Exercise at DistrictCon from Feb 21-22, 2025.
TABLETOP EXERCISE
TABLETOP EXERCISE
In a world built on the seamless operation of interconnected systems, the fragility of critical infrastructure often goes unnoticed—until it fails. A sudden and unexpected crisis has struck, disrupting water supplies, power grids, food distribution, and medical systems across several towns. As chaos unfolds, cascading failures ripple through these essential services, leaving communities on the brink of collapse. With limited resources, failing utilities, and mounting public unrest, the clock is ticking. Decisions made over the next few hours will determine whether these communities can stabilize and survive—or spiral into irreversible disaster.
In this high-stakes scenario, you’ll step into the roles of decision-makers, engineers, first responders, and policymakers, tasked with working together to address the cascading crises. As you navigate through this immersive experience, you will face tough choices: how to prioritize limited resources, how to stabilize critical systems under pressure, and how to rebuild trust among citizens. Each action, or inaction, will have consequences, forcing you to weigh immediate survival against long-term recovery. The challenge lies not only in technical problem-solving but also in managing strained relationships, political pressures, and the human toll of disaster.
This is not a simulation of simple fixes or one-dimensional problems. The game will challenge you to think critically, act decisively, and communicate effectively under pressure. Competing priorities and unexpected challenges will test your ability to balance equity, logistics, and survival in real time. You may uncover hidden vulnerabilities in systems you thought were secure or discover that solving one problem can create two new ones. The choices you make—whether to repair, redistribute, or sacrifice—will shape the fate of the towns and the lives of their citizens.
Are you ready to take control in the face of chaos, or will the interconnected systems you rely on fracture under the weight of the crisis? Step into the story and see if your strategy can hold the pieces together—or if the cracks will widen under the pressure. The fate of the towns is in your hands.
Nathan is a distinguished Enterprise Security and Cloud Governance Executive with extensive experience in SecOps, Cloud Security, and Incident Response. His proactive engagement with industry professionals and contributions as a cybersecurity thought leader has allowed him to foster a culture of security awareness. Nathan's exceptional ability to lead people and develop innovative approaches to complex architectures make him a critical asset to organizational growth and customer success. His innovative approach is demonstrated through his multiple patents and contributions to industry platforms.