What Cyberchallenge does

CyberChallenge.IT is Italy's national cybersecurity training program for university and high school students aged 16-24, organized by the Cybersecurity National Lab of CINI (Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per l'Informatica) with formal support from the Agenzia per la Cybersicurezza Nazionale (ACN). The program operates as an official action under Misura #65 of Italy's National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022-2026 and is structured as a non-profit educational initiative rather than a commercial enterprise. Annual editions run from November through July, with online registration, an admission test, multi-month local training at university venues, local CTF competitions, and a national final competition. The 2026 edition selected 756 students from 3,000+ applicants and ran 40 local teams across 38 universities plus the Army Training Command in Turin and the Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli.

The program's core technology is a Capture the Flag (CTF) competition platform that supports both Attack/Defense and Jeopardy-style formats. The Attack/Defense framework uses a multi-service challenge infrastructure (including IRCC, ArcadeCCabinet, TeleCC, RetroCConsole, ControlTower, DutyFree, FlightDB, Skypedia, CheesyCheats, Gabibbi Towers, and GadgetHorse) with scoring based on service availability (SLA %), attack flags captured, and defense flags maintained. The curriculum spans eight cybersecurity domains: ethics, cryptography, web security, software security, hardware security, network security, malware analysis, and attack/defense techniques. A Hall of Fame system tracks historical team rankings from 2017-2026. Top performers feed into TeamItaly, Italy's national team for international cybersecurity competitions.

CyberChallenge.IT's business model is a non-profit, government-sponsored model. Participation is free for students aged 16-24, eliminating any consumer pricing or revenue stream. Funding comes from two sources: government support via the ACN (as part of the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022-2026) and corporate sponsorship from companies seeking access to the cybersecurity talent pipeline. Distribution is institutional rather than commercial: the program reaches students through 38 university venues, 600+ federated high schools (via the CyberHighSchools program, promoted nationally by the Ministry of Education), and 2 military academies. No revenue, funding rounds, headcount, or ownership figures are publicly disclosed. CyberChallenge.IT is not an investable commercial entity in the traditional private equity or venture capital sense; it is a publicly mandated national capability.

Name

Cyberchallenge

Legal name

CINI Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per l'Informatica

Website

https://cyberchallenge.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CyberChallenge.IT is Italy's national cybersecurity training program for students aged 16-24, organized by CINI's Cybersecurity National Lab with government support from ACN. It delivers CTF competitions and multi-domain training across 38 universities, 2 military academies, and 600+ federated high schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Education and Training

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Cybersecurity Learning Platforms (EDAFANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Penetration Testing, Red Team & Ethical Hacking (EDAOAIAH), Cybersecurity (Digital Safety, Ethical Hacking Basics) (EDAMACAH), Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity training programs
• Capture the flag competitions
• STEM education programs
• Talent identification programs
• Information security education

Headquarters

HQ city

Roma

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government/Institutional Funding: The program is funded through government support from the Agenzia per la Cybersicurezza Nazionale (ACN) and operates as part of the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022-2026 (Misura #65). Organised by CINI consortium with support from national cybersecurity agency.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Companies sponsor the program, providing resources for training, competitions, and student support. Sponsors gain access to talent pipeline and visibility among young cybersecurity professionals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CyberChallenge.IT is a free national cybersecurity training program for Italian students aged 16–24, organized by the Cybersecurity National Lab of CINI with support from the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN). It delivers structured training across ethics, cryptography, web, software, hardware, network security, malware analysis, and attack/defense, culminating in local and national Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, with top performers advancing to TeamItaly for international cybersecurity olympiads.

Product overview

CyberChallenge.IT is a unified national cybersecurity training program for Italian students aged 16-24, organized by the Cybersecurity National Lab of CINI with support from the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN). The program centers on an annual CTF (Capture The Flag) competition cycle that runs from online registration through local and national finals, supplemented by workshop events, training materials, and career resources. The program spans multiple yearly editions (2017-2026), each featuring attack/defense competitions across 38+ participating universities plus military academies, with a Hall of Fame archiving past results and a CyberHighSchools program extending participation to secondary education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CyberChallenge.IT Training Program Annual national training program for Italian students aged 16–24 that delivers structured lectures, admission testing, and hands-on training across eight cybersecurity domains, culminating in local and national competitions. Free for participants and funded by government and corporate sponsors.
• CTF (Capture The Flag) Competitions Attack/Defense and Jeopardy-style cybersecurity competitions run as part of CyberChallenge.IT, with local team rounds and a national final. Teams score on service availability, attack flags captured, and defense flags maintained across challenge services such as IRCC, ArcadeCCabinet, TeleCC, RetroCConsole, ControlTower, DutyFree, FlightDB, Skypedia, CheesyCheats, Gabibbi Towers, and GadgetHorse.
• CyberHighSchools Federation Program Federation program that connects Italian high schools to CyberChallenge.IT, enabling informatics teachers to federate their schools and create a pathway between secondary education and university-level cybersecurity training and competitions.
• Workshop Events Annual workshop gatherings bringing together participants, former participants, and tutors to present and discuss experiences within CTF competitions and the broader cybersecurity training program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 756 students trained in 2026 edition, selected from 3000+ applicants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• 38 Italian UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026University venues that host local CyberChallenge.IT teams, provide training facilities, and contribute expert tutors. Includes major institutions like University of Pisa, University of Trento, Sapienza, Politecnico di Milano/Torino, and others.
• Agenzia per la Cybersicurezza Nazionale (ACN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national cybersecurity agency provides official support and backing for CyberChallenge.IT. The program is part of Misura #65 of the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022-2026, making it an official government-supported initiative.
• Cybersecurity National Lab (CybersecNatLab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe organizing body that manages CyberChallenge.IT operations. Part of CINI consortium, it coordinates all aspects of the program including training curriculum, competition infrastructure, and partner relationships.
• CINI - Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per l'InformaticacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe inter-university consortium that operates the Cybersecurity National Lab and CyberChallenge.IT. Provides institutional framework and university network access for the program.
• Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (MIUR)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Italian Ministry of Education promotes CyberChallenge.IT to all high schools and supports the CyberHighSchools federation program. Encourages STEM studies among young people.
• Comando per la Formazione e Scuola di Applicazione dell'Esercito di TorinomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArmy training command participates as a special venue for CyberChallenge.IT, contributing military personnel and resources to the cybersecurity training program.
• Accademia Aeronautica di PozzuolimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAir Force academy participates as a special venue for CyberChallenge.IT, integrating military training with cybersecurity education.
• 600+ Federated High Schools (CyberHighSchools)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHigh schools federated through the CyberHighSchools program, where informatics teachers connect students to cybersecurity training and competitions at the national level.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RangeForce: Enterprise cybersecurity skills development platform offering hands-on, team-based cyber exercises. Comparable attack/defense-style training technology, though RangeForce is enterprise-funded and global rather than youth-focused.
• SANS Institute: Largest incumbent provider of professional cybersecurity training and certifications globally. Broadly comparable as a cybersecurity training organization, though it targets working professionals and enterprise buyers rather than a youth talent pipeline.

Direct peers

• TryHackMe: Cybersecurity learning platform offering guided, room-based training pathways and CTF-style challenges for beginners through advanced learners. Highly comparable learning experience and target audience (students and early-career security enthusiasts).
• Hack The Box: Global CTF and hands-on cybersecurity training platform with attack/defense challenges and a community of learners. Directly comparable to CyberChallenge.IT on the CTF competition and skills-development dimension, though Hack The Box is commercial and global in scope.
• picoCTF (Carnegie Mellon University): Academic CTF competition run by Carnegie Mellon targeting middle/high school and university students. Closest functional peer: a university-driven cybersecurity competition and training program aimed at identifying young talent.
• National Cyber League: US-based biannual cybersecurity competition for high school and college students featuring CTF-style challenges. Directly comparable as a recurring student-focused cybersecurity competition and skills assessment platform.
• CyberPatriot (Air Force Association): US national youth cybersecurity competition with strong high school focus and military-affiliated backing. Comparable structure: government-affiliated, school-federated national cybersecurity competition for students, including military academy participation.
• CyberStart / SANS Institute: SANS's program bringing cybersecurity training and CTF-style challenges to high school and college students. Comparable audience, challenge-based learning model, and industry-backed sponsorship structure.

Others

• OWASP Foundation: Global nonprofit producing open-source cybersecurity education, training materials, and community projects. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — comparable as a community-driven cybersecurity education ecosystem that overlaps with CyberChallenge.IT's curriculum domains (web, software security).

Regional players

• CyberTalents: Cybersecurity talent platform and competition organizer with strong roots in Africa/MENA, running CTF-style competitions and talent identification similar to CyberChallenge.IT's model, but serving a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CyberChallengIT
• Facebookfacebook.com/CybersecNatLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/CybersecNatLab
• Instagraminstagram.com/CybersecNatLab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cyberchallenge