International Cyber Security Summer School
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ICSSS 2026 contributing partners:

who we are

The International Cyber Security
Summer School (ICSSS)

A week-long programme

organised by a selection of leading cyber security organisations

Knowledge in the field of cyber security

During ICSSS, young professionals, PhD-students and master's students get the opportunity to broaden their knowledge in the field of cyber security

Challenges, workshops, and lectures

provided by high level cyber security experts.

Student experience ICSSS 2026:

From 16–21 August 2026, the eleventh edition of the International Cyber Security Summer School (ICSSS) took place in The Hague. ICSSS 2026 brought together a diverse, multinational group of 56 master’s and PhD students and young professionals for a six-day programme exploring cybersecurity from technical, legal, governance, and social-science perspectives. Participants attended multidisciplinary lectures on current cyber threats and opportunities and worked on real-world challenges provided by international and domestic security organisations. They developed and presented solutions, putting their knowledge into practice and engaging with experts from the field. Visits to Europol Headquarters and NATO’s Communications and Intelligence service office in The Hague offered insights into international cooperation and activities in cyberspace.

The programme also included hands-on collaborative activities, including an Operational Technology wargame organised by Booz Allen Hamilton and a crisis simulation led by NCIA. Combining academic perspectives, practical exercises, and international exchange, ICSSS 2026 provided participants with an opportunity to broaden their knowledge, test their skills, and build connections across disciplines and national borders.

We asked two students how they experienced the Summer School:

“The ⁠ICSSS was a very intensive week for all of us. To me, that proves how valuable and educational it is. The lectures provided theoretical knowledge, new insights, and introduced us to contemporary issues, debates, and relevant actors in the cyber domain. The practical challenges provided students with hands-on experience in a cybersecurity issue. The diversity of the group — students and professionals at different stages of their careers, from different countries and backgrounds — contributed substantially to my learning curve and understanding of the cyber domain. Besides, ICSSS’s events — BBQs, drinks, organisation visits, and a conference — also enabled us to really get to know each other beyond the classroom.”

“As someone who was on the fence about signing up myself, I can tell you that – knowing what I know now – I would have really regretted not attending ICSSS. I learned so much about both topics within my own field, such as cybercrime, technological sovereignty, or geopolitics, and beyond it, including post-quantum encryption, OT, and business continuity. I also really enjoyed working on the challenges.”

An impression of ICSSS

“The ICSSS is a unique multidisciplinary week of learning and doing cyber security, offering the participants a memorable experience.”

Drs. Els de Busser

Asst. Professor Cyber Security Governance at the Leiden University Institute of Security and Social Affairs
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