Command ALERT

Comando ALERTA is an innovative cybersecurity education initiative that uses cinematic storytelling to build digital skills and change behaviour. It empowers young people, families and educators to identify and detect cyber threats, and act safely in an increasingly complex digital world. 

Background and context

Comando ALERTA is an innovative cybersecurity education initiative designed to address a growing and urgent 
societal challenge: the rapid increase of cyberattacks affecting both citizens and businesses. Spain alone registered over 122,000 cybersecurity incidents in 2025: a 26% increase compared to the previous year, with citizens and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) among the most affected groups. Despite this trend, the general population still lacks practical skills to identify and respond to common cyber 
threats.

The initiative was created to close this gap by focusing on citizens as the first line of defence. Strengthening 
their cybersecurity skills has a direct impact not only on individuals but also on the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the European economy and often lack sufficient cybersecurity resources.

About this initiative 

Comando ALERTA introduces a “do more and do different” approach, recognising that traditional awareness 
methods have not been effective in changing behaviour. The programme leverages audiovisual storytelling as a core educational tool, using a cinematic episode (“Challenge” from ALERTA La Serie) to immerse participants 
in realistic cyber-risk scenarios. This method enhances emotional engagement, improves knowledge retention, 
and promotes behavioural change.

The initiative primarily targets young people aged 16 to 21, a group highly exposed to digital risks, while also 
engaging teachers, parents, and caregivers as key enablers of sustained impact. The methodology combines 
the screening of the episode with interactive workshops led by cybersecurity professionals, who translate key 
scenes into practical lessons on topics such as phishing detection, misinformation, password security, safe 
communication, and data protection. The programme is delivered free of charge through partnerships with public institutions and professional associations, relying on volunteer experts to ensure both quality and scalability. This collaborative model enables the initiative to reach diverse communities while promoting STEM vocations and cybersecurity awareness across society.

Ultimately, Comando ALERTA aims to empower citizens with actionable cybersecurity skills, transforming them 
from vulnerable users into informed and proactive actors in the digital environment.

Why is this a good practice? 

Since its launch, Comando ALERTA has trained over 4,000 students and engaged more than 100 teachers 
across 70+ secondary schools and vocational centres in over 20 cities in Spain. It has also reached around 1,000 additional participants through cinema-based sessions and expanded to 15 universities, including international institutions in Latin America. Measured outcomes show significant improvement: understanding of cybersecurity concepts increased by 22%, secure communication practices by 20%, and the ability to detect misinformation by 45%. The most notable result is behavioural change, with correct responses to cyber-risk situations increasing from 13% to 95%.

As a key milestone for international scaling, the initiative has launched its expansion through Universidad del 
Caribe in the Dominican Republic, with the support of the Ministry of Education, establishing a replicable model 
for broader deployment. Expansion in Europe will be supported by translations into French and Portuguese, while growth in Latin America is accelerated by the shared language. Sustainability is ensured through institutional partnerships and a replicable delivery model.

Comando ALERTA has begun its international replication in the Dominican Republic, where the initiative has 
been implemented with Universidad del Caribe in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
Further expansion is already in preparation in Peru (Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola), Honduras 
(Universidad José Cecilio del Valle), and Costa Rica (Fundación YOD), with planned launches aligned with the 
academic calendar from mid-2026. This international rollout is supported by organisations such as ISACA, CyberWomen, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Global Cyber Alliance, which facilitate coordination with governments and provide volunteer cybersecurity professionals.

Accessibility is integrated through collaboration with CINTAC, ensuring inclusion of people with disabilities. The initiative addresses accessible cybersecurity (e.g. screen reader use for visually impaired users) and promotes inclusive content design. The digital format also enables adaptation to different accessibility needs.

The initiative ensures inclusion by reaching diverse audiences across public and private schools, urban and rural areas, and students at risk of exclusion. It promotes gender inclusion through female role models and is free of charge. Pilot workshops have included seniors (70+), adult learners, and immigrant families.