The holidays are a perfect time to show appreciation to the security pros in your life—or even to treat yourself. For people who live in cyber war rooms and late-night incident calls, I gravitate toward gifts that are practical, a little nerdy, or simply make long days easier. While none of these are sponsored gifts, they’re items I’ve gifted for others or would be genuinely happy to see on my desk during the holidays. 

Whether you’re shopping for a hardcore engineer, beloved analyst, or your entire SOC team, this list keeps it simple and affordable. It also saves you from having to answer, “So… what will they actually like?”

My top holiday gift picks 

“Best Cybersecurity Expert” candle

Burn after resolving.

Sometimes the most useful security tool is the one that helps you decompress after a long day isolating threats and preventing breaches—and reminds everyone what legends smell like.

WiFi Pineapple Pager

For the hacker who already has everything. 

A playful nod to WiFi security testing for a little harmless fun and excellent desk topper—ideal for the red teamer (defense testers or hackers) needing a pick-me-up between attack simulations. 

Needoh Nice Cube

Stress relief for high-alert brains.

A surprisingly satisfying stress toy that’s perfect for fidgeting during long calls and even longer shifts defending the perimeter and tracking threats.

Lava lamp

Achieve next-level chill.

Lava lamps are making a comeback, and it’s about time. When alerts are piling up, plug in one of these blasts from the past and keep the bummers at bay.

Charging station

The least chaotic thing on the desk.

Cybersecurity people love a good unified system. Here’s a centralized, compact charging station that reduces clutter and keeps phones, headphones, and wearables organized and powered up. 

Threat Hunting For Dummies eBook

A starter guide for future blue team legends.

An approachable, beginner-friendly read that still delivers value for anyone looking to join the blue team (defenders) and sharpen their detection mindset. 

Tis the season to say thanks

The best gift doesn’t need to be pricey or overly technical. It’s all about showing the security pros in your life that their work is noticed, appreciated, and worth celebrating.

Disclaimer: The products mentioned above are not sponsored, affiliated, or endorsed by Symantec, Carbon Black or Broadcom. All opinions are based on personal preference and experience. Links are provided for convenience only.