Building strong communities in the cybersecurity industry is crucial because cyber threats are constantly evolving, and no single entity can combat them alone. Collaboration fosters knowledge sharing, strengthens defenses, and accelerates incident response. This is exactly why the Global Cybersecurity Camp (GCC) exists – and why DefCamp is proud to represent Romania at GCC for the first time in 2025.
On a global scale, cyberattacks often transcend borders, making international cooperation essential. Nations working together can track cybercriminals, establish common security standards, and respond to threats more effectively. Without collaboration, vulnerabilities in one country can be exploited to impact many others, making collective cybersecurity a shared responsibility for a safer digital world.
Skilled cybersecurity professionals play a vital role in safeguarding sensitive data, securing infrastructure, and ensuring data privacy for customers, employees, and business operations. However, despite their critical importance, finding qualified experts can be a challenge – especially for startups, small businesses, and even larger organizations.
The cybersecurity skill shortage only grows every year…
To address the cybersecurity skills gap, organizations must adopt a proactive approach. Various factors, such as industry, location, and company size, can influence their ability to find skilled professionals. Businesses in urban centers often have easier access to trained experts, while those in rural areas or smaller towns may face greater challenges in securing cybersecurity talent.
According to Gartner, by 2025, the shortage of cybersecurity professionals will contribute to over 50% of major cybersecurity incidents.
That is why many countries around the world started national or even global programs to train young people passionate about cybersecurity, to bring them closer to an expert level in order to prepare them for an actual job. With this in mind, we constantly look for new ways to improve and develop partnerships and collaborations around the world, to provide our community with the means and the channels to grow their skills and learn.
Bit Sentinel is one of the Romanian companies that is actively involved in such educational programs and they said that “through such programs, students can:
- Broaden their knowledge because exposure to diverse cybersecurity practices and challenges from around the world allows students expand their horizons and stay updated with global trends and practices
- Establish a global network as collaborating with peers and experts from various continents fosters the creation of a valuable professional network, which can lead to future collaborations and career opportunities.
- Harness soft skills and develop them as working in multicultural teams enhances communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities, essential skills in the cybersecurity field.”
DefCamp represents Romania at the Global Cybersecurity Camp (GCC) 2025
That is why we are very proud to share with you that DefCamp has been selected to represent Romania at the Global Cybersecurity Camp (GCC) 2025, marking a historic milestone as the first European member!
And guess what? We are only a few days away from the event, putting all details together and making sure everything is settled in due time for all attendees representing Romania.
We took this opportunity to ask Andrei Avadanei, DefCamp founder, what’s his vibe regarding the upcoming participation at GCC:
“As GCC approaches, I’m most excited about seeing young cybersecurity talents from Romania engage with top experts and peers from around the world. This is Romania’s first time participating, and it’s a huge step in integrating our local community into the global cybersecurity ecosystem. I wish such initiatives existed when I was younger :)“.
There is no doubt that global initiatives that bring young people passionate about cybersecurity together have a great impact towards harnessing talent and making a change.
Andrei said that “I look forward to witnessing how students absorb knowledge, tackle challenges, and develop their problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. More than just technical growth, I hope they build strong connections, gain new perspectives, and bring back valuable insights that will strengthen our cybersecurity landscape.”
GCC: Fostering collaboration and nurturing talent
GCC is an annual international week-long cybersecurity talent development camp that hosts around 50 students annually. Leading cybersecurity communities and institutes from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia send students for the event. GCC aims to facilitate collaborations among cybersecurity institutions all around the world to boost the quality of education and research and grow global cybersecurity talents.
As a new proud member of the GCC, DefCamp has launched a program to select three Romanian students to participate in GCC in 2025.
👏 Thanks to the support of Bitdefender, Bit Sentinel, Acronis Cyber Foundation Program & Secureworks, three exceptional Romanian students will join this unique cybersecurity experience from February 10-14, 2025, in Taiwan:
- Marc Luchian – Titu Maiorescu University from Bucharest, Faculty of Informatics
- Teodora Jilăveanu – University Politehnica of Bucharest, Information Technology Management
- Fineas Florin Silaghi – West University of Timisoara, Artificial Intelligence and Distributed Computing
Congratulations and good luck in your journey! 🎉
“This participation not only places Romania on the global cybersecurity map but also provides Romanian students with invaluable exposure to international best practices and collaborative opportunities. All this along with a significant learning experience.
Hopefully this will be only the beginning of the collaboration and we will continue to grow and expand across borders with our talent representing Romania, of course“, mentioned Bit Sentinel.
How do programs like GCC help prepare the next generation of cybersecurity specialists for real-world challenges?
GCC aims to facilitate collaborations among cybersecurity institutions all around the world to boost the quality of education and research and grow global cybersecurity talents.
We also take Andrei’s perspective on this and he said that “GCC is not just about competition — it’s about collaboration, innovation, and shaping the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. I can’t wait to see how this experience inspires our participants and what impact it will have on their future careers and on the infosec community as a whole.”
Creating such an environment for learning and nurturing talent is a great responsibility as it involves many resources and takes a lot of time. Our friends at Bitdefender mentioned that “Romania’s debut at GCC places the country on a map of global collaboration, showcasing the depth of its talent and its commitment to tackling cyber challenges as part of a larger, unified effort.“
And “in the long run, initiatives like GCC shape the future of cybersecurity by developing highly skilled professionals who address industry challenges, close talent gaps, and drive innovation. Supporting such programs strengthens the cybersecurity landscape, ensuring a safer digital future for all”, added the representatives from Acronis Cyber Foundation Program.
Moreover, when we take a look at students’ perspective for attending such events, we see a huge interest because, as our partner Acronis Cyber Foundation Program mentioned “Romanian students come from a challenging environment, which ignites a strong determination to succeed. They are driven to overcome obstacles, outthink their competitors, and excel by working smarter and thinking creatively. This resilience and innovative mindset fuel their motivation to keep learning, improving, and striving to achieve excellence.”
So “for students, GCC is an inflection point. They’re honing their technical skills and are being challenged to collaborate with peers from vastly different backgrounds, to lead in unfamiliar situations, and to solve problems that don’t have easy answers. This kind of immersion teaches resilience, adaptability, and empathy, which are critical attributes for cybersecurity professionals tasked with defending a world that grows more complex by the day”, Bitdefender said.
What’s next?
We look forward to experiencing the GCC journey to Taiwan with our three students representing Romania and we take this opportunity to thank our partners for making this happen.
Our partners are involved in local educational programs and they are actively supporting the next generation of cybersecurity professionals whenever they get the chance. Why? Well simply because:
“At GCC, we believe Romanian students will stand out for their ability to combine technical depth with a collaborative mindset and exposure to global skills and knowledge. Their participation isn’t just about representing Romania, but about bringing a fresh, determined perspective to the global stage. Bitdefender’s mission goes beyond providing world-class cybersecurity solutions. We’ve said it before, but it’s true every time: building a safer digital future means investing in the people who will lead us there. Beyond our involvement in Romania’s educational landscape, Bitdefender is also committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurial thinking“, Bitdefender representatives told us.
“Sponsoring initiatives like GCC aligns perfectly with our mission to create a safer future for everyone, driven by our belief that all evil stems from insufficient knowledge. Through our involvement in GCC, we hope to inspire students to gain valuable insights from international educators and forge connections with talented peers from across the globe. This experience will help them define their futures, improve cybersecurity both domestically and internationally, and encourage them to become high-moral professionals and decent individuals who contribute positively to society“, our friends from Acronis Cyber Foundation Program added.
“Going the extra mile is not just a quote for us, it’s who we are. We are overachievers and our mission is to create a safer digital space in this world. That is why we are constantly engaging in educational programs and we stay close to young people passionate about cybersecurity: to inspire them, to teach them and to guide them towards a career in this ever changing industry. By supporting Romanian students’ participation in GCC, Bit Sentinel not only enhances individual learning experiences but also contributes to building a more robust and collaborative global cybersecurity community“, Bit Sentinel said.
So: only a few days left until GCC 2025, and we couldn’t be more excited! It’s our first time at the Global Cybersecurity Camp, and we’re ready to make the most of it – learning, hacking, and connecting with some of the brightest minds in the industry.
Expect tons of behind-the-scenes moments, epic challenges, and exclusive interviews straight from the action. Stay tuned – you won’t want to miss this!