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Microsoft’s Kakpovi Works, Plays Hard 

June 25, 2025

Simeon Kakpovi, a senior threat intelligence analyst at Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Center, recently presented his cybersecurity game KC7 to experts at Microsoft's Innovation & Policy Center in Washington. The 29-year-old Benin native originally pursued medicine before discovering his passion for cybersecurity during college at Howard University. After working at Lockheed Martin and earning a master's degree from Cambridge University, Kakpovi now leads a team tracking Iranian cyber threats at Microsoft while advocating for increased diversity in the cybersecurity field through KC7 and mentorship programs.

Who is affected

  • School-aged children across the country who participate in the KC7 cybersecurity game
  • People of color interested in cybersecurity careers
  • Students at Howard University who receive mentorship from Kakpovi
  • Trey Hopkins, former NFL player transitioning to cybersecurity
  • Cybersecurity professionals and high-tech experts who attended Kakpovi's presentation

What action is being taken

  • Kakpovi is promoting KC7, a cybersecurity game he co-created that teaches people to be "cyber detectives"
  • Kakpovi is mentoring students at Howard University who major in tech fields
  • Kakpovi is actively participating in groups such as Blacks in Cybersecurity to promote diversity in technology
  • Kakpovi is leading a team of Microsoft analysts in countering cyber threats from Iranian groups
  • Kakpovi is bringing KC7 to school-aged children throughout the country

Why it matters

  • The cybersecurity field lacks diversity, particularly among people of color
  • KC7 provides an accessible way for people to learn about cybersecurity through gamification
  • Mentorship and representation are important for encouraging underrepresented groups to enter technology fields
  • Kakpovi's work helps intercept digital intruders before they can achieve their end goals
  • His story demonstrates alternative pathways into cybersecurity careers beyond traditional routes

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer

Microsoft’s Kakpovi Works, Plays Hard