On October 22 and 23, 2026, participants of the Pilot Program for Enhancing Cybersecurity Skills Gaps in Ukraine completed one of the program’s key practical stages — the Capture The Flag (CTF) qualification competitions.
After the intensive Bootcamps, it was time to test their knowledge and skills in conditions designed to closely reflect the real work of cybersecurity teams.
The qualification stage was held across two tracks:
October 22 — SOC Analyst Qualification CTF
Participants worked on tasks related to security event monitoring, analysis of potential cyber threats, detection of suspicious activity, and incident response.
October 23 — Cyber Threat Intelligence & Incident Response Qualification CTF
Participants focused on cyber threat analysis, investigation of adversary tactics and techniques, identification of attack indicators, incident response, and decision-making related to threat containment.
From Training to Testing Skills in Action
The Capture The Flag format became a natural continuation of the Bootcamps, during which students worked with theoretical materials and practical scenarios on the CybExer cyber range.
During the qualification stage, participants had to do more than simply find the right technical solution. They also had to work under time pressure, analyze situations, set priorities, and respond quickly as scenarios evolved.
This format makes it possible to assess not only technical knowledge, but also the competencies that are essential for real-world cybersecurity professionals: analytical thinking, attention to detail, speed of decision-making, and the ability to work with complex cyber incidents.
The Next Stage — The Final
The qualification stage is now complete, and for the strongest participants, the program moves to the next level.
🏆 The top participants from both tracks will meet in the final in November 2026.
The final will mark the culmination of the program’s practical stage and provide another opportunity to test participants’ knowledge through complex scenarios that closely reflect real-world cyber threats.
From Bootcamp — to CTF.
From CTF — to the Final.
From academic knowledge — to practical cybersecurity skills.
The Pilot Program for Enhancing Cybersecurity Skills Gaps in Ukraine helps students gain practical experience while still at university and prepare for real professional challenges in cybersecurity.
The project is implemented by Security Expert Group (SEG) and CybExer with the support of the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).
