UNbreakable Romania, the largest cybersecurity education program for high school and university students, announces the launch of registrations for its 8th edition. The program helps young people develop cybersecurity skills and build a strong career in the field. At UNbreakable Romania, participants will be granted direct access to companies seeking talent for jobs or internships and can benefit from collaboration opportunities with industry specialists. The top performers will also win prizes worth over €8,000.
In 2024, the global cybersecurity workforce gap reached a record high, with 4.7 million experts needed, according to the CyberSecurity Workforce study conducted by (ISC)². In this context, the 8th edition of UNbreakable Romania continues to train the next generation of young talents, building a solid foundation of future cybersecurity professionals.
High school and university students passionate about cybersecurity are invited to register for the 2025 edition of UNbreakable Romania starting January 29. This year’s program will once again take place on the CyberEDU educational platform, developed by Bit Sentinel and supported by Orange, the organizers of UNbreakable Romania. The platform offers a wealth of resources designed to train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Last year, UNbreakable set a new participation record, with over 1,400 young people joining the program. Among them, 839 actively competed in the individual competition, 93% of whom were under the age of 25, and around 80% expressed interest in internships and job opportunities in cybersecurity.
For 2025, UNbreakable aims to attract nearly 2,000 participants and connect them with Romania’s cybersecurity business environment, helping them transition into the workforce. The program will create tangible opportunities for companies to discover emerging talent and support the development of a future-ready cybersecurity workforce equipped to meet employers’ needs.
The first step toward this goal is organizing a series of local Capture the Flag (CTF) preparation competitions in major cities across the country, leading up to the program’s first official competition. These debut events will bring the UNbreakable experience closer to participants, facilitate connections with local partners, and give young people the chance to explore the practical aspects of cybersecurity.
“The UNbreakable Romania program has grown exponentially year after year, both in terms of participant numbers and the diversity of activities and opportunities offered to students. We will continue to focus on supporting young people across the country in their development and helping them build successful careers in cybersecurity. By creating new activities and actively involving local communities, we aim to make cybersecurity education and practice more accessible while building a solid foundation of talent. We are confident that, in the coming years, these young people will evolve from valuable juniors to experts, ready to contribute to the development of a top-tier cybersecurity industry in Romania“, said Andrei Avădănei, CEO of Bit Sentinel.
Meanwhile, participants can prepare through the online bootcamp, gaining access to both theoretical and practical resources, as well as cybersecurity experts and former participants who will host webinars on relevant topics, offering support to refine skills or even career advice.
Two online competitions will follow: the individual competition, from March 28 to 30, and the team competition, from April 11 to 13. For the third consecutive year, the top 3 male winners and the top 3 female winners of the individual competition will automatically qualify for the final of the Romanian Cyber Security Challenge – RoCSC 2025. RoCSC 2025 finalists will gain national recognition and have the chance to be part of the team representing Romania at the European Cybersecurity Challenge. Additionally, the top 15 teams in the online team competition will be selected for the final stage, which will take place physically in Bucharest, from May 9 to 11.
“The UNbreakable project aims to bridge the gap between market demands and the number of available cybersecurity specialists. Our goal is to create real opportunities for young talent across the country, preparing them to become leaders and innovators in the field. The strong interest shown by thousands of registrations in previous editions demonstrates that young people recognize the opportunity to train in a field with a promising future. The younger generation is much more aware of cyber risks due to their daily interaction with technology. This makes cybersecurity not only a personal concern but also an attractive professional option for them“, said Cristian Pațachia-Sultănoiu, Development & Innovation Manager, Orange Romania.
The winners will receive prizes worth over €8,000, offered by Bit Sentinel and Orange Romania. Details about the full schedule of activities for UNbreakable Romania 2025, the registration form, and the prizes are available on the official competition website.
