The participants, comprising civilian, military, and law enforcement officials, were mid-level to senior professionals with solid knowledge of network operations, configurations, and familiarity with the Linux operating system, including terminal tools. The high level of interest from both the civil and military EU community underscored the success of the previous six courses organized by CST CoE and ESDC. To ensure readiness, participants completed a mandatory, specially designed assessment test for the course.
The primary objective of the course was to equip participants with the skills to improve the cybersecurity of the IT infrastructure they oversee. Through hands-on scenarios, participants learned to conduct penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in target systems. These exercises involved using cybersecurity tools within a Cyber Range environment, focusing on Reconnaissance, Exploitation, Wifi-Hacking, and Web Pentesting.
The course was inaugurated by Col. Mariusz Krawczyk, Director of the CST CoE, and Mr. Giuseppe Zuffanti, ESDC Coordinator for Cyber Issues. Both speakers provided an overview of the CST CoE, ESDC, the EU Cyber Ecosystem, and initiated a fruitful discussion.
This program supported the “Penetration Tester” role within the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework (ECSF) of ENISA and aligned with key EU strategies, including the Strategic Compass, the EU Cybersecurity Strategy for the Digital Decade, and the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030.
We extend our sincere thanks to Col. Krawczyk, the Course Director, the CST CoE experts, and the participants for their dedication, participation, and valuable contributions to making this course a success.
