Unilever - Cards Against Cyber Crime
Real-Time Cybercrime Multiplayer Training Platform for Global Teams
problem
Unilever was looking for a better way to run its digital cybersecurity training. Not another 10-page PDF or mandatory e-learning module, but something people would engage with, enjoy, and actually remember. They had already built a physical card game that worked well in their in-person workshops. It sparked discussion, surfaced risky assumptions, and made cybercrime scenarios feel grounded and based in reality. But once their teams moved remote, the format started to break down. Running the game over Zoom or Microsoft Teams quickly became impractical, and scaling it across regions added new friction. On top of that, the content needed to stay fresh. Cyber threats change quickly, and Unilever wanted to update cards, add scenarios, and localize decks without waiting for a new development cycle every time.
problem
Unilever was looking for a better way to run its digital cybersecurity training. Not another 10-page PDF or mandatory e-learning module, but something people would engage with, enjoy, and actually remember. They had already built a physical card game that worked well in their in-person workshops. It sparked discussion, surfaced risky assumptions, and made cybercrime scenarios feel grounded and based in reality. But once their teams moved remote, the format started to break down. Running the game over Zoom or Microsoft Teams quickly became impractical, and scaling it across regions added new friction. On top of that, the content needed to stay fresh. Cyber threats change quickly, and Unilever wanted to update cards, add scenarios, and localize decks without waiting for a new development cycle every time.
solution
We built a real-time multiplayer web app that brings the game into live sessions without killing the flow of the conversation. Teams join a lobby, create private rooms, and play together while staying on their video call, so the game supports the session instead of competing with it. Gameplay stays synchronized for everyone in the room, which means dealing, shuffling, and progressing through rounds happens instantly and cleanly. To keep it scalable long-term, we separated content from code. Card decks, languages, and scenarios can be updated independently, so Unilever can expand the game, adapt it per region, and keep it relevant as cybercrime tactics evolve. Behind the scenes, the server coordinates game flow through a clear state model, handles transitions automatically, and cleans up inactive rooms so sessions stay stable and predictable.
solution
We built a real-time multiplayer web app that brings the game into live sessions without killing the flow of the conversation. Teams join a lobby, create private rooms, and play together while staying on their video call, so the game supports the session instead of competing with it. Gameplay stays synchronized for everyone in the room, which means dealing, shuffling, and progressing through rounds happens instantly and cleanly. To keep it scalable long-term, we separated content from code. Card decks, languages, and scenarios can be updated independently, so Unilever can expand the game, adapt it per region, and keep it relevant as cybercrime tactics evolve. Behind the scenes, the server coordinates game flow through a clear state model, handles transitions automatically, and cleans up inactive rooms so sessions stay stable and predictable.
results
The game was delivered on time and within budget, meeting Unilever’s functional requirements from day one. They now have a digital training experience that keeps the energy of the original workshop version, but works for remote and distributed teams across regions. Cybersecurity sessions are easier to run, more interactive, and much more social than standard training formats. Unilever can also maintain the content themselves - adding new cards, expanding scenarios, and rolling out multi-language updates without relying on developers for every change. The platform is ready to grow with future awareness and training initiatives, instead of being a one-off tool that’s only useful for a single rollout. In the end, it turned cybersecurity training into something Unilever teams actually look forward to.
results
The game was delivered on time and within budget, meeting Unilever’s functional requirements from day one. They now have a digital training experience that keeps the energy of the original workshop version, but works for remote and distributed teams across regions. Cybersecurity sessions are easier to run, more interactive, and much more social than standard training formats. Unilever can also maintain the content themselves - adding new cards, expanding scenarios, and rolling out multi-language updates without relying on developers for every change. The platform is ready to grow with future awareness and training initiatives, instead of being a one-off tool that’s only useful for a single rollout. In the end, it turned cybersecurity training into something Unilever teams actually look forward to.
tech stack
tech stack
