Text: Nelly Sander, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photos: Campfire Security and AAU 

It began as a community to ignite young people's interest in cyber security. On a training platform developed at Aalborg University, they learned to think like hackers and strengthen their digital defences based on dialogue and exchange of experiences. Much like sitting around a campfire. 

"If you want to learn to ride a bike, you don't read a book about it, you get on the bike. The same thing here: What does a data leak look like? How does it work on the Dark Web? Those “aha” moments are invaluable," says Kristian Meincke, Commercial Director at Campfire Security.

During the project with the young people, the idea arose to also focus on the Danish business community. Professor Jens Myrup, Commercial Director Kristian Meincke and three other cyber specialists, all associated with the research environment at AAU, therefore agreed to establish a company where other companies can buy access to train employees in cyber security.

A data leak in the holiday home

With the CVR number (Danish company registration number) in house, they went to a rented holiday home in Græsted to make a strategy for their brand-new company. On the way, they drove past Kristian Meincke's warehouse from his former company, loaded office chairs and desks onto a trailer and continued out to the summer house. Holiday home furniture was pushed aside, and in its place an office environment was created with room for the group and their considerable amount of IT equipment.

While they laid the foundations for the future of the cyber company, fate would have it that the real estate chain EDC was hacked. Almost 100,000 CPR numbers were freely available online, and many were outraged. As so often before, a journalist from DR called Jens Myrup to get an expert opinion. 

"Then we got started. One team member managed to locate some of the leaked EDC data, while others contributed with different types of technical touch. And that's what made the journalist think it was worth driving up to a holiday home in North Zealand on a Sunday afternoon and doing a live interview. Here I experienced first-hand how our team could collaborate," says Kristian Meincke. 

Collaboration with AAU

Campfire Security has its roots at AAU, and the collaboration with the university meant a lot in the beginning.

"We received good guidance from AAU Innovation. For example, it was a really good process to get a license agreement made, so we could bring into the company what we had developed at AAU," says Jens Myrup.

The collaboration still works and provides access to research environments, talents and networks,

Orange blankets, draft beer and coffee

The company has experienced rapid growth and today has three offices in Denmark with a total of 25 permanent employees as well as a team of interns and student assistants. Both large and small companies use the training platform, and often a wide group of employees with different types of technical touch. 

Although Campfire Security has grown, the team has not forgotten the campfire spirit:  

"At trade fairs, while many companies surround themselves with blue colours and padlocks, we’re often the only stand with an orange carpet, guitar music and a light installation that mimics fire, all while serving filter coffee and draft beer. We create such an atmosphere where people feel welcome. This is campfire, and we do a lot to live up to our name.