CyberSim & Take9 for Civic Digital Resilience

The National Civic League is excited to launch CyberSim and Take9 for Civic Digital Resilience, a new national initiative in partnership with craig newmark philanthropies and Aspen Digital at the Aspen Institute. Through immersive cybersecurity simulations, local governments and civic leaders will build the skills, partnerships, and awareness needed to protect critical community infrastructure.

Why Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity may not immediately seem connected to the National Civic League’s civic engagement and democracy-strengthening mission, but digital security is foundational to public trust, reliable service delivery, and meaningful democratic participation.

Too often cybersecurity is framed as abstract, technical, and disconnected from day-to-day governance and public wellbeing. As a result, communities struggle to prioritize it, even as the risks grow. A national survey of local officials found that only 67% believe their cybersecurity funding is sufficient, even as 44% report experiencing cyberattacks on an hourly or daily basis. The National League of Cities estimates the average cost of a single breach at $6.53 million.

Beyond financial loss, the consequences of cyber(in)security include eroded public trust, disrupted services, and diminished civic participation. Imagine a resident who joins a participatory budgeting process or serves on a community survey panel, only to learn that their personal data has been stolen. How likely is that person to participate again, or to encourage others to do so? What about those whose access to public health services or basic utilities are disrupted at a critical moment? How likely are they to trust their government to meaningfully deliver for them? 

Local governments and civic organizations are particularly vulnerable. They manage sensitive data and critical infrastructure, often with limited staff and budgets. With federal investment for state and local cybersecurity now facing more significant cuts, the burden of protection is shifting even more heavily onto local governments themselves. In a world of shrinking budgets and competing priorities, it is more essential than ever that local governments and communities understand why cybersecurity matters, so that they are motivated and empowered to prioritize it accordingly.

Why CyberSim?

CyberSim is an interactive, role-playing, tabletop exercise originally designed by The National Democratic Institute to help democratic actors, civil society members, and political parties abroad experience and practice defending against real-world digital security threats. 

Over the next year, the National Civic League and Take9 will adapt and deploy new editions of CyberSim specifically designed for local governments and civic organizations. These immersive simulations bring digital threats to life in realistic community scenarios, helping participants:

• Experience and respond to the cascading impacts of cyber incidents
• Clarify roles and responsibilities
• Strengthen cross-sector partnerships
• Identify practical steps to improve preparedness

Rather than relying solely on compliance checklists or technical training, CyberSim builds awareness through lived experience, creating the emotional connection and shared understanding necessary to prioritize cybersecurity.

Building Civic Digital Resilience Nationwide

In 2026, CyberSim will roll out in communities across the country. The League will:

• Convene local governments and civic organizations for in-person simulations
• Use a train-the-trainer model to scale the program nationally
• Feature the simulations at events and conferences
• Leverage our extensive network to raise awareness and strengthen preparedness.

CyberSim will help communities identify scalable approaches to strengthening digital security, civic collaboration, and public trust. Cybersecurity is not separate from civic health. It is essential to it.