From 17 to 22 August 2025, the 10th edition of the International Cyber Security Summer School (ICSSS) took place, and the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) once again supported the event in The Hague, Netherlands.
The ICSSS is an annual event organized by Security Delta (HSD), NCIA, Europol, Leiden University and other supporting partners. NCIA has been involved with ICSSS since the first edition in 2015, inspiring the next generation of cyber leaders and defenders every year.
On 19 August, 53 participants from 17 countries were welcomed to NCIA’s campus in The Hague where the agenda kicked off with opening remarks from NCIA Chief of Staff Major General Krzysztof Kociuba. “Without cyber, it would be impossible to conduct operations, carry out exercises or fulfil NATO’s mission. Today you will hear more from our experts and learn from one another’s expertise through the valuable insights and perspectives you bring to this event. I hope that after today you will be encouraged to contribute to the NATO ecosystem in the future,” he said.
The exercise highlighted how cyber defence is a multi-disciplinary team sport that requires collaboration between experts from different fields. Participants tested their ingenuity and ability to identify problems and present solutions under a high-pressured time-sensitive environment.
The morning of the event consisted of a deep dive into the topic of cyber, bridging the gap between strategy to operations, and an opportunity to learn about NCIA’s work in this domain from the cyber experts themselves. In the afternoon, participants played several cyber table top games that demonstrated realistic scenarios and challenges that NCIA cyber experts face on a regular basis.
“Starting at NCIA as a Cyber Intern, and now speaking on the 10th anniversary of ICSSS as a Cybersecurity Assistant, is a reminder that our field advances when curiosity meets community,” said Ege Baser, NCIA Cyber Security Assistant. “It is an honour to explore the ever-growing world of cybersecurity at NCIA and bring those insights to ICSSS to inspire students and young professionals to pursue a career in cyber.”
To wrap up, participants shared their learnings and reflections on the day. “Being at NCIA, collaborating with leading experts and working together to solve problems is not something you can easily experience as a student,” explained Nyah Gyamfi, Bachelor’s Student at Leiden University. “It was highly rewarding to hear NCIA experts share their invaluable insights with us. We have been sharpening our cyber skills during the summer school and found a chance to apply them at NCIA in The Hague during the table top exercises. I am grateful to have taken part in this year’s programme.”
NCIA has contributed to the summer school programme for ten consecutive years, sharing cybersecurity knowledge and a strategic overview of cyber defence at NATO, as well as by designing an exercise to test the students’ collaborative skills in a crisis simulation. For NCIA, participating in ICSSS is an important opportunity for talent outreach, encouraging ICSSS alumni to apply to NCIA’s internship scheme and other recruitment opportunities. Check out the NCIA career page here.