Cybersecurity students put their skills to the test

Rozanne Swart
  • 2 Days Ago

As Namibia’s digital economy grows, so does the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals. The 12th Namibia National Cyber Security Competition (NNCSC) is helping prepare students for that challenge by giving them practical experience beyond the classroom.

Students from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), the University of Namibia (UNAM), the International University of Management (IUM) and the International Training College Lingua (ITCL) took part in the competition, which was supported by a N$75 000 silver sponsorship from Capricorn Group.

This year’s theme, ‘Security is a state of mind, are you in?’, challenged students to put their technical knowledge to the test while gaining experience that could give them an advantage as they enter the job market.


Learning by doing

Rather than relying on theory alone, the competition places students in a simulated computer network where they must defend systems against attempted attacks.

Participants take on the role of cybersecurity defenders, identifying threats, protecting systems and responding to attacks under pressure. The exercise gives them a taste of the fast-moving challenges security professionals face in real working environments.

The experience also helps students build technical confidence, sharpen their problem-solving skills and learn to respond to potential security breaches.


Connecting students with industry

The competition also gives students an opportunity to engage with industry professionals and gain insight into workplace expectations.

Capricorn Group supported the event financially, while its experts also took part in the judging process, bringing industry knowledge to the assessment of students’ performance.

This interaction helps bridge the gap between academic learning and the practical skills employers seek when recruiting cybersecurity professionals.

Marlize Horn, Capricorn Group’s group chief brand and corporate affairs officer, said cybersecurity was essential to building trust in digital services.

“Technology can open new ways to serve people, but it must be built on security that earns their trust,” she said. “The NNCSC gives students the chance to put their skills to work against realistic challenges. We are pleased to support their development and the cyber talent Namibia will need as its digital economy grows.”