Today, Estonia’s cybersecurity competitions celebrate their 10th anniversary, and over this period tens of thousands of young people have taken part in various challenges that put their skills to the test – from defending IT systems to conducting attack analysis. Tallinn University of Technology has played a key role in organizing the competitions as well as fostering IT enthusiasts and new talent.
According to Birgy Lorenz, initiator of the competitions and head of TalTech’s IT Didactics Centre, the names of Estonia’s young talents have over the years reached the podium both in domestic finals and on international stages. “For example, Team Estonia has repeatedly taken part in Europe’s largest cyber competition, the ECSC, where young people compete with the best from dozens of countries. Estonia has earned honorable placements there multiple times, proving that our next generation of cybersecurity experts is strong,” Lorenz added.
She noted that the Estonian youth cyber competitions have offered not only the excitement of competition but also the opportunity to learn through practical scenarios. For example, the competitions have simulated the 2007 Bronze Night cyberattacks, practiced protecting national e-services, and searched for vulnerabilities in virtual critical infrastructure systems.
In addition, various talent camps, such as Dream Summer Camp, have been held, and special programs have been created to help young people deepen their knowledge and gain internships at Estonian cybersecurity companies. Many former winners are now highly regarded specialists, working in both the private and public sectors.
The year 2025 marks ten years during which Estonian youth have been able to test their limits through cyber competitions, explore career paths, and lay the foundation for international success. To celebrate the anniversary, a series of special events will be held to reflect on the past decade and look toward the future – because in the world of cyber threats, the new generation is needed more than ever.
Youth cyber competitions such as KüberNaaskel, KüberPuuring, and the international European Cyber Security Challenge (ECSC) are organized in cooperation between universities, companies, and state institutions. The competitions bring together young people aged 14–25 from all over Estonia – from high school students to university students. In addition, there are tests designed for grades 1–6 under the name KüberNööpnõel (“Cyber Pin”), as well as the KüberPähkel (“Cyber Nut”) quiz for students in grades 4–9.