From the Classroom to the Field: ICSSS Students Visit NCIA

On Tuesday 18 August, the International Cyber Security Summer School (ICSSS) visited NCIA at its campus in The Hague, Netherlands. The visit agenda included a high-level introduction to NATO and NCIA’s role in cybersecurity, direct engagement and networking with NATO cyber professionals, and a fireside chat with NCIA experts working in the field.

Moreover, an interactive exercise was also included, encouraging the participants to apply multidisciplinary thinking to a cyber security challenge. The challenge exposed students to a realistic cyber crisis, demanding task force style teamwork to manage and strategise, weighing operational security with strategic intelligence gathering.

Sander Oudkerk, Section Head Solutions and Roadmaps, NATO Cyber Security Centre, NCIA: "It was a pleasure to welcome students to NCIA to explore how NCIA enables NATO to use cyberspace to achieve its core tasks. The students understood the message that cyber security in NATO is not just a technical matter, which is why it is so important that the ICSSS keeps bringing a diverse group of cyber talent to the table. I was impressed with their enthusiastic engagement and it gives me confidence in our future cyber professionals."

A longstanding ICSSS partner

For more than a decade, NCIA has supported the International Cyber Security Summer School by sharing its expertise and giving emerging cyber professionals an insight into cyber defence at NATO. NCIA’s continued participation in ICSSS also supports the Agency’s efforts to engage future talent and introduce students and young professionals to career opportunities where their skills can contribute to NATO’s mission.

Source: NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA)