Event Day Guide
Running your KC7 event from start to finish
You've done the planning, and now it's time for your KC7 event! Here's your guide to running a smooth, engaging cybersecurity competition that participants will love.
Before Participants Arrive
Arrive 15-30 minutes early to test your setup. Make sure your internet connection is stable, any projection equipment is working, and you can access both your host dashboard and the participant Go Link.
Have your host dashboard ready on your device so you can monitor the live scoreboard and analytics throughout the event. Keep the Go Link easily accessible to share with participants.
Welcome and Introduction (10-15 minutes)
Start with the KC7 Videos
Begin your event by playing the two instructional videos from your KC7 intro page. These videos perfectly explain what participants will experience and set the right tone for the investigation.
The videos cover:
What KC7 is and how it works
The story of "A Scandal in Valdoria"
What participants can expect during their investigation
Set the Stage
After the videos, add your own welcome:
**"Welcome to our KC7 cybersecurity investigation! You're about to become digital detectives solving a real mystery in the Kingdom of Valdoria. No cybersecurity experience needed - the game will teach you everything as you go.
You'll have about 90 minutes to work through the investigation, but don't worry about finishing. The learning happens throughout the process, and everyone works at their own pace. There's a live scoreboard if you enjoy friendly competition, but remember - this is about discovery and learning!"**
Key Points to Emphasize
This is meant to be challenging - getting stuck is part of learning
Individual accounts - each person creates their own account for progress tracking
Collaboration is encouraged - participants can work together and discuss approaches
Ask for help - you're there to guide, not to teach cybersecurity (KC7 does that!)
Getting Participants Started (5-10 minutes)
Share the Go Link
Display your participant Go Link prominently where everyone can see it. You can:
Write it on a whiteboard/projection screen
Share it in chat (virtual events)
Send it via text/email to the group
Account Creation
Have everyone visit the Go Link and create their KC7 accounts. They can choose to:
Create a full account (recommended) - lets them save progress and return later
Play as guest - works fine for the event but progress isn't saved
Pro tip: Encourage full account creation so participants can finish the investigation later if they don't complete it during your event.
First Steps Check
Once everyone has accessed the game, do a quick check: "Can everyone see the Kingdom of Valdoria welcome screen? Great! You can start reading the scenario and begin your investigation."
During the Investigation (60-90 minutes)
Your Role as Host
Your job is encouragement and light guidance, not cybersecurity instruction. KC7 handles all the technical teaching - you create the positive learning environment.
What to do:
Circulate and check energy levels
Offer encouragement when someone gets stuck
Remind participants to use the built-in hint system
Monitor the live scoreboard for overall progress
Be enthusiastic about discoveries and breakthroughs
What NOT to do:
Give away answers
Teach cybersecurity concepts (the game does this)
Rush participants who are working methodically
Focus only on the highest scorers
Using Your Host Tools
Live Scoreboard: Check this periodically to see how the group is progressing. If you notice most people stuck on the same challenge, it might be worth a gentle group reminder about using hints.
Analytics Page: This shows you which challenges are most difficult and overall success rates. Great for understanding how your group is doing and what concepts might warrant discussion afterward.
Handling Common Situations
"I'm completely stuck!"
"Have you tried the hint button for this challenge?"
"What approach have you tried so far?"
"Sometimes taking a fresh look at the evidence helps - what story do you think the data is telling?"
"Is this answer right?"
"What makes you think that's the answer?"
"Does that fit with what you've discovered so far?"
"Try submitting it and see what happens!"
"I don't understand what this means..."
"The game will explain new concepts as you encounter them"
"Try reading through the challenge description again"
"What do you think might be happening in this scenario?"
Managing Energy and Engagement
30-45 Minutes In
Do a quick energy check: "How's everyone doing? I'm seeing great progress on the scoreboard! Remember, there are built-in hints if you get stuck, and you're welcome to discuss approaches with each other."
60 Minutes In (If applicable)
If you have a time limit, give a time update: "We have about 30 minutes left. If you haven't finished, that's completely normal! Focus on the challenges you find most interesting rather than trying to complete everything."
Wrapping Up (10-15 minutes)
Celebrating Achievements
Focus on learning, not just completion. Whether participants finished or not, they've developed valuable skills:
"Congratulations everyone! You've just completed your first cybersecurity investigation. Whether you solved the entire mystery or worked through several challenges, you've learned real digital investigation skills."
Share the Final Scoreboard
Display the final scoreboard and celebrate different types of achievements:
Highest scores
Most improved during the session
Best questions asked
Most creative approaches
Great collaboration
What They've Learned
Highlight the skills they've developed:
Digital evidence analysis
Pattern recognition in data
Critical thinking about security incidents
Logical investigation techniques
Next Steps
Encourage continued learning:
They can continue playing if they didn't finish
Mention upcoming KC7 events if you're planning more
Share resources for cybersecurity career exploration
Connect them to your KC7 Discord community
After Your Event
Participant Access
Participants retain access to the game and can continue their investigation anytime. This is perfect for those who want to finish or revisit challenges.
Your Analytics
Your host dashboard maintains all the scoreboard and analytics data, so you can review results whenever needed.
Follow-Up Opportunities
Consider sending a thank-you email with:
Final scoreboard results
Resources for continued learning
Information about future KC7 events
Feedback survey (see Templates & Materials)
Quick Reference for Event Day
Opening: KC7 videos + welcome (10-15 min) Getting Started: Share Go Link, account creation (5-10 min) Investigation: Facilitate and encourage (60-90 min) Wrap-up: Celebrate and share results (10-15 min)
Remember: You're creating a positive learning environment - KC7 handles the cybersecurity instruction!
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