The 9th edition of the International Cyber Security Summer School (ICSSS) concluded on 23 August 2024 in The Hague, Netherlands, after an interactive week of workshops, visits, team challenges and a cyber-simulation exercise.
The ICSSS is an annual event organized by The Hague Security Delta (HSD), the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), Europol, Leiden University and other supporting partners. NCIA has been involved with ICSSS since its inception in 2015, promoting a culture of collaboration, innovation and shared responsibility in the next generation of cyber leaders.
This year, 60 students from 25 countries attended the school to learn about career opportunities in cyber security, witness the latest technological advancements and ask questions directly to NCIA technology experts about the cyber landscape.
The week-long experience exposed students to workshops, Q&A sessions, lectures and an informal networking event. Budding cyber visionaries had the chance to practise their cyber skills and knowledge during a simulated crisis exercise at NCIA's campus in The Hague.
The students were divided into groups and worked on two consecutive cyber threat scenarios, demonstrating a real NCIA cyber exercise. Under time pressure and with new information and problems arising, the groups had to exchange ideas, discuss their approach to resolve the issues and present their solution to the other groups.
"This year, for the first time, we implemented a direct way to interact and stimulate the students," explained Thomas Breach from NCIA's Chief People Office (CPO). "The exercise translated real-life examples of NCIA challenges into a world that resonated with the students and taught them new ways of thinking and approaches to problem-solving."
"The experience was 'eye-opening.' It was an honour to be able to go inside the NCIA, see how its processes work and talk to cyber security experts and professionals," said Ini Kong, a student from ICSSS 2024. "It was an inspiring opportunity for the younger generation of cyber security enthusiasts to see a glimpse of what we could do in the future."
In addition to the networking opportunities from the week, ICSSS students attended a career fair where NCIA's CPO continued the conversation with the cohort about cyber-focused topics and promoted opportunities for future career development at NCIA. The event served as a platform for CPO to further develop its long-term cohesive relationship with academic partners.
"As a former alumnus of the ICSSS in 2016, participating in this year's event as an expert speaker was truly rewarding," reflected Michael Reiner, Senior Officer from the NATO Support and
Procurement Agency (NSPA). "It demonstrated NSPA's partnership with NCIA in developing the next generation of cyber defenders. The ICSSS NATO-day involved simulated cyber incidents, providing a unique opportunity for students to step into the shoes of cyber security professionals and face real-world challenges in a dynamic and interactive environment. This experience fostered collaborative problem-solving and a sense of community among emerging cyber security leaders, strengthening the future talent base for the benefit of NATO and its member nations."