Publishing date: 18 June 2026 Immagine notizia Immagine Paragrafo On 17 June, the University of Insubria hosted the awards ceremony for the fourth local edition of CyberChallenge.it in the Granero Porati Auditorium on the Varese campus. The initiative was organised by the Degree Programme in Computer Science under the coordination of Professors Elena Ferrari and Sabrina Sicari.The event was opened by Professor Alberto Coen Porisini, Director of the Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, which hosts the Computer Science programme.Also attending was Dr Moreno Carullo, co-founder, together with Dr Andrea Carcano, of Nozomi Networks. Both are alumni of the University of Insubria, where they earned their Master's degrees and PhDs in Computer Science.“Education, interdisciplinarity and teamwork are the key ingredients that have contributed to Nozomi’s success,” Dr Carullo said during his speech. Immagine Professors Elena Ferrari and Sabrina Sicari highlighted the importance of ethics in cybersecurity and privacy protection as essential elements for ensuring security and defence. As the name of the initiative itself suggests, the goal is to train hackers—but ethical hackers. In this context, initiatives such as CyberChallenge.it play a crucial role.The two professors also emphasised the leading role of cybersecurity worldwide and the potential of artificial intelligence as a supporting tool for developing security solutions.“The awards ceremony represented an important opportunity to recognise the commitment and skills developed by participants throughout the programme. Investing in the education of younger generations is essential to address the growing challenges of digital security and to strengthen the resilience of the national ecosystem,” Professors Ferrari and Sicari stated. Immagine Professor Alberto Coen Porisini also stressed the importance of cybersecurity in a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies. Although public attention is currently focused mainly on artificial intelligence, he noted that AI is only one part of a broader technological landscape in which cybersecurity plays—and will continue to play—a fundamental role in safeguarding society and citizens.CyberChallenge.it is Italy’s leading initiative, promoted by the CINI Cybersecurity National Lab, aimed at identifying, attracting, training and guiding into the workforce the next generation of cyber defenders. The programme relies on the collaboration of cybersecurity experts from Italian universities and professionals from the sector.Since 2020, CyberChallenge.it has been recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education as a programme for the promotion of excellence, identifying and assessing the skills of upper secondary school students.At the University of Insubria, students selected to take part in the programme were chosen in February. They shared a strong interest in cybersecurity, commitment, and curiosity for STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), as well as strong logical reasoning, problem-solving and communication skills, and above all, a willingness to learn.Following a dedicated training programme, the students took part in the local Capture The Flag competition. The team composed of Sebian Selimi, Sara Hesham Abdel Hamid Abou Aziz, Christian De Molli, Jacopo Soria, Lorenzo Scalone and Giacomo Aliotta has qualified for the CyberChallenge.it 2026 National Final, which will take place in Salerno from 12 to 15 July. The competition will consist of an Attack & Defense Capture The Flag challenge, played in teams of six participants representing each university site.This year, for the first time, the team includes a female student, reflecting the growing participation of women in STEM-related fields and careers.(Main photo, from left to right: Sabrina Sicari, Moreno Carullo, Alberto Coen Porisini, Elena Ferrari, the students participating in the programme, together with programme instructors and tutors.)