The team consisting of Gonzalo Camaño, Juan Andrés Arraga, and Sebastián Fernández, accompanied by Ethel Kornecki, a faculty member and assistant in the Cybersecurity Academic Coordination Office, took second place out of 14 participating groups.
The Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge is an annual cyber policy and strategy competition in which teams from Latin America and the Caribbean compete to develop policy recommendations to address a fictional cyber catastrophe.
According to Sebastián, participating in this type of competition is "a learning experience from the perspective of other customs and cultures."
"We're even more eager to keep competing and improving ourselves as students and future professionals in the field."
For his part, Gonzalo adds that the experience was incredible: "We had the opportunity to work on a potentially real-life case, with many details and different aspects—ranging from government and diplomacy to cybersecurity and compliance, among others. This made for a very comprehensive and challenging exercise. I was also proud to represent our school in an international competition."
Reflecting on the competition experience, Gonzalo says: "We’ve gained valuable insights into how to manage a cyber crisis. I’d highlight the teamwork, which, along with our coach, was crucial. We also had the opportunity to learn from teams from other countries, as well as from international experts who gave very informative talks."
Juan Andrés also mentions the importance of Ethel during the competition, as well as that of other faculty members who were always available. He also points out that "representing Universidad ORT Uruguay the country showcases us as an institution that offers excellent training, since we have faculty members who are leaders in Latin America."
Both Sebastián and Gonzalo highlight the training provided in the Specialization Diploma in Cybersecurity.
I feel that we have the tools to address leadership, management, and practical application at a competitive level.
"I think the quality of the graduate program is very high, since we have faculty members who are highly experienced professionals and recognized experts in their respective fields, which means we have a very well-rounded and high-caliber faculty," adds Gonzalo.
For his part, Roberto Ambrosoni, Ph.D., professor of Cybersecurity and academic coordinator of the diploma program, states that "these types of skills and exercises, which are carried out in real-world scenarios simulating potential cyber incidents, are not only essential practice for the profession, but also clearly demonstrate the capabilities developed by the graduate students."