Using educational challenges to improve cybersecurity skills: lessons learned from an Automated Vulnerability Research Challenge in NL, 26 November 2024, Webinar

In this webinar, the Dutch Automated Vulnerability Research Challenge project describes its approach and lessons learned. The team provides advice for any organisation that considers using a challenge format for cybersecurity education purposes. The goal of the webinar is to drive cybersecurity competence development  by preventing others from reinventing the wheel.

Talent development is a crucial element of cybersecurity. To keep our societies cybersecure, we need to explore new ways to educate young people on cybersecurity matters, stimulate talent development and strengthen professional competence development. Cybersecurity skill development is a key part of the Netherlands Cybersecurity Strategy. The Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs had requested DG Reform to support a project that explores the use of cybersecurity challenges as an academic educational instrument. This particular project focussed on ‘Automated Vulnerability Research’ (AVR), the use of advanced algorithms to find vulnerabilities in software code. The project has worked with various Dutch universities to include an AVR Challenge event in the education curriculum of Master students. By sharing the lessons, the team aims to support cybersecurity competence development initiatives and prevent others from reinventing the wheel.

The presentations will be delivered by Unisys (project lead of the AVR Challenge Project), DG Reform, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Registration

Please register for free via the Teams Event Link HERE.

Agenda

• 12.00-12.25: Welcome and introduction of the project
  • Agota Kovacs, Policy Officer @ DG REFORM   
  • Martijn Neef, Coordinator Knowledge and Innovation Cybersecurity @ Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
• 12.25-12.50: Presentation of the AVR Challenge project
  • Jeroen Zonnenberg, Teamlead Security Consulting @ UniSys
  • Tjaard Burger, Project Manager @ UniSys
• 12.50-13.00: Questions and closing

Context

The Netherlands, with support from DGReform, launched a project focused on Automated Vulnerability Research (AVR) as part of its comprehensive cybersecurity innovation policy. The project emphasises sector collaboration, human capital, and the use of challenges as a practical educational tool. It offers firsthand insights on organising cybersecurity challenges in academic settings and aims to share lessons learned and advice for future initiatives.

Goals

The goals of this webinar are to disseminate the findings of the AVR Challenge project, share lessons learned, and exchange visions on using challenges as an educational tool in cybersecurity.

Contacts

• Lodewijk Noordzij, NCC-NL, lodewijk [dot] noordzijrvo [dot] nl (lodewijk[dot]noordzij[at]rvo[dot]nl)