Outstanding Team Europe made it again to the top step of the podium of the 5th edition of the International Cybersecurity Challenge, taking ownership of the winning title for the past five years.
This year’s edition of the International Cybersecurity Challenge was hosted in Brisbane, Australia. With a total of 7 teams from Europe, Asia, LATAM and Caribe, Africa and North America more than 60 countries were represented.
The ICC gathers top cybersecurity talents every year who come from all over the world. They are given a unique opportunity to compete and test their cybersecurity skills in an international setting.
ENISA warmly congratulates all the winning teams:
- Team Oceania in 3rd place,
- Team USA in 2nd place,
- And Team Europe, securing the international title for the 5th time in a row!
The European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, said: "Once again, Team Europe won the International Cybersecurity Challenge against the world’s best young cyber talents! This fifth consecutive title is not just a competition result – it is a signal of Europe’s strategic depth in cybersecurity. At a time when cybersecurity is evolving at machine-speed, having such talented [human] cyber expertise is a strategic asset for the future of our cybersecurity.”
The EU Ambassador to Australia, Gabriele Visentin, said: “Cybersecurity is a core pillar of our shared security and as global threats evolve, cooperation between like-minded partners is increasingly essential to protect and strengthen the resilience and security of the functioning of our democracies.Through participation in practical, accessible activities like the ICC, the European Union is strengthening ties, supporting young talent, and deepening partnerships with Australia and across the Indo-Pacific. Cyberattacks know no borders, and all layers of a digital society can be impacted.”
The ENISA Executive Director, Juhan Lepassaar, said: “The unfailing success of Team Europe gives us hope for the future. Indeed, our cybersecurity resilience can only grow if we plant the right cybersecurity mind-set today. Providing our young talents with both incentives as well as tough problems is key to the development of the workforce of the future.”
The ECCC Executive Director, Luca Tagliaretti said: “The victory of Team Europe showed us that great results can be achieved when working together. The strength of our team lies in the exceptional talent of our players, their commitment but most of all in their ability to complement each other and be together as one.
As a global Capture the Flag event (CTF), the International Cybersecurity Challenge (ICC) is designed to encourage the development of cybersecurity skills and to foster international cooperation. The format of the event with teams made up of nationalities from all over the world allows team members to experience cultural differences and learn how to still be able to efficiently cooperate to achieve their goals.
The ICC was originally launched and led by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) in 2022. Cybersecurity is a team sport and the event is organised thanks to the cooperation with both regional and international organisations.
Teams competed against each other by solving complex cybersecurity puzzles, involving classic Jeopardy challenges – such as cryptography, reverse engineering, forensic, web exploitation – that are updated with contemporary software and technology challenges, like cloud, AI, Operational Technology (OT) environments, mobile applications and IoT. ICC also features an Attack and Defense competition, where players are requested to defend vulnerable services through patching while exploiting vulnerabilities of other teams and eventually steal flags.
To prepare the team, ENISA, in cooperation, for the first time this year with the ECCC, facilitates a structured training programme in close collaboration with Team Europe’s official coaches. This includes training bootcamps, an official qualifier event, and a series of online training sessions aimed at developing both technical skills and team cohesion. The team’s preparation and success would not have been possible without the dedication, guidance and expertise of the coaches: Mario Polino, Pedro Adao, Sanne Maasakkers, Ioannis Agrafiotis, Rick de Jager and Dragos Albastroiu.
Future International Cybersecurity Challenge
The next International Cybersecurity Challenge (ICC 2027) will return the competition to Europe for the first time since it was first held in Athens, Greece in 2022. The ICC will take place in October 2027 in Ireland.
ENISA, together with the ECCC and European Commission, will support the Woman International Cybersecurity Challenge (WICC) in Dublin this summer, bringing together top female cybersecurity talents from Europe and partner regions. This event will include hands-on technical challenges, mentoring opportunities, and international collaboration activities, providing a dedicated platform to showcase and strengthen women’s participation in cybersecurity.
The initiative builds on ongoing efforts to promote diversity, inclusion, and equal access to cybersecurity careers worldwide.
Contact
For press questions and interviews, please contact: press@enisa.europa.eu.
Content written for: National / EU authorities
