4th annual CyberGEN conference on cybersecurity to take place in Armenia from June 14 to 21

ArmInfo.  From June 14 to June 21, the 4th annual  CyberGEN conference will be held in Dilijan, dedicated to  cybersecurity. The week-long event will include a number of events. Details of the conference were announced at a press conference on May 30 by Nerses Yeritsyan, the head of the Information Systems Agency of Armenia, Komitas Stepanyan, the head of the CBA Department for Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Marie Barseghyan, the director of the Microsoft Innovation Center and the head of the CyHub  Armenia project, Ruben Muradyan the director of information security at Hexens, and Salwa Nacouzi, the rector of the French University in Armenia.

As Yeritsyan stated, this conference serves two main purposes: the first is to provide information on the direction in which the world is heading, the existing risks, and how to position oneself; the second is to expand opportunities. "It is worth noting that this year the conference includes exercises aimed at addressing cybersecurity issues. Additionally, the deepening cooperation between the private and public sectors and the Academy of Sciences is also important. Trust and partnership among the parties are essential for a comprehensive understanding of systemic risks, upon which a robust  technological system for  protection and counteracting to cyber  challenges can be built," Yeritsyan explained, expressing hope that in the future it will be possible to host not just a week on  cybersecurity, but a month, as is done abroad.

Stepanyan, added that this year there is an increased interest in this event. "Developments in the world show that cyberattacks on both the financial sector and critical infrastructures have increased dramatically.  Moreover, the main blow falls on the financial sector. In terms of security, the involvement of the financial system in such events is crucial - this year, 100 participants from this sector have  already registered, including representatives of central banks from other countries," he said. According to Stepanyan, the main goal is to create a platform in Armenia where specialists from different countries can meet and discuss cybersecurity issues and solutions, as it is not just about technology, but also about people and knowledge.  "After all, ultimately, it is the combined knowledge that will enable us to combat cyberattacks not only in the financial sector, but also in critical infrastructures," he believes. Stepanyan, happily noted  that students also participated in the conference, suggesting that this year their number will  likely reach 40-50% of the total   participants. He recalled that last year's conference included master classes on "attack-defense", which, judging by the interest, are planned for this year as well.

Salwa Nacouzi, speaking about the shortage of personnel and student involvement  in such events, said: "It is a great honor for us to participate in this program, with  our students at the forefront. Since last November, we have been implementing the Cyber4Am program, funded by the French Foreign Ministry.  Leading universities in such as Yerevan State University, the American University of Armenia, the Eurasian International University, and the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, along with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Armenia and the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises  of Armenia are involved. For two years now, our university has been holding courses on cybersecurity for students and specialists twice a year. This year, as part of the program, we are also collaborating with the Central Bank of Armenia. We have developed a project with partner universities, which we will submit for approval within the framework of the Erasmus program. I think that the CBA will play a  crucial role in this program." 

Noting that the French University focuses on cybersecurity and  artificial intelligence, she said: "This is a priority for Armenia  and in the upcoming years we will be undertaking significant work in this direction. It is very important for us to carry out this work together with the academy, specialists in the field, and at the state level." Salwa Nacouzi expressed gratitude to the CBA for their partnership in implementing the program and stated that  she is optimistic about enhancing cybersecurity in Armenia. 

Microsoft representative Marie Barseghyan noted: "There is a global shortage of personnel in this area.  Such events provide an opportunity for specialists, including those from other countries, as well as students to collaborate in addressing issues in this area. This year, greater emphasis is placed on AI and cybersecurity, as we see that with the advancement  of these areas, new types of cyber attacks are emerging." She reported that in recent years, many students have attended CyHub Armenia to participate in informal courses and hackathons that are organized annually. According to her,  with the promising growth the IT sector, the demand for specialists will continue to rise.

Note that in 2024, the CyberGEN conference was also held in June in Dilijan. Speakers included representatives from such well-known organizations as Trellix, AWS, SimSpace, OpenText Cybersecurity, Google Cloud, CQURE, Kaspersky, and F5.