South Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School

Develop your career in Cyber Security

The South Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School (SANCS) is an annual online event organised by Dutch and South African organisations for students and young to mid-career professionals who are interested in cybersecurity issues and are based in Southern Africa or the Netherlands. The central goal of this school is to give SANCS students the opportunity to grow professionally and academically in the sphere of cybersecurity through free expert lectures and online action learning. The first edition of SANCS occured from 11 March – 18 April 2024 and we will be back in March 2025! (specific dates will follow soon). SANCS is inspired by the Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School, co-organised by HCSS.

Attend the latest SANCS

The need for ethical and highly educated professionals in Cybersecurity is more pressing than ever. HCSS is proud to announce that SANCS24 was the first online course in cybersecurity for students and young professionals based in Southern Africa- the Netherlands, which was held from 11 March to 18 April 2024. SANCS will be back in March 2025 (specific dates will follow soon). SANCS offers a valuable opportunity for participants to gain further expertise in Cybersecurity. Exemplary attendees may be rewarded with Certificates in the taught specialties. Apart from a rich academic experience, participants have the chance to meet with new people including our expert speakers, our partner’s representatives and fellow students, and broaden their network. Download the fact sheet of SANCS 24 here.

Programme and speakers

Our cybersecurity education initiatives cover a diverse array of subjects including forensics in cybersecurity, data protection, blockchain, artificial intelligence, cyber arms monitoring, and cloud computing. Our esteemed speakers hail from various fields such as computer science, crisis and security management, law, and industry. Students of SANCS will also enhance their understanding through practical learning challenges, completed within interdisciplinary teams and evaluated by our collaborating partners. Explore the previous programme details here.

Programme

Programme Flyer (PDF)

Challenges

1891

Number of registrations SANCS24

SANCS24 Testimonials

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Our partners in academia, government and industry

SANCS is co-organised and supported by a wide range of partners from industry, research and government. Our partners for 2024 included The Hague centre for Strategic Studies, Stellenbosch University, the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa.

Organisers

Challenge Partners

Organisers

Partners

Partner organisations

National Cyber Resilience Game

As part of the SANCS, students have the opportunity to play the National Cyber Resilience Game. The intent of the game is to further educate the students on all different aspects of cyber resilience and challenge them to assess what capabilities are required to make South Africa more cyber resilient, find out more about HCSS serious gaming here.

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News

SANCS25 partners with Microsoft!

February 24, 2025

The Southern Africa - Netherlands Cyber Security School (SANCS) is excited to announce that we will be partnering with Microsoft for SANCS 25!

SANCS25 partners with DataGr8!

February 24, 2025

The Southern Africa - Netherlands Cyber Security School (SANCS) is excited to announce that we will be partnering with DataGr8 for SANCS 25!

SANCS25 partners with Hunt & Hackett!

February 24, 2025

The Southern Africa - Netherlands Cyber Security School (SANCS) is excited to announce that we will be partnering with Hunt & Hackett for SANCS 25!

SANCS25 partners with Africa Talent by Deloitte!

February 24, 2025

The Southern Africa - Netherlands Cyber Security School (SANCS) is thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with Africa Talent by Deloitte for SANCS 25!

SANCS25 is now open for Registration!

December 20, 2024

SANCS is back as the Southern Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School (SANCS) and is now open for registration! After the success of the inaugural SANCS earlier in March this year, we are eager to show you what we have in store in 2025. This online Cyber Security school caters to postgraduate students and young to mid-career professionals interested in cybersecurity matters, specifically those based in Southern Africa or the Netherlands.

SANCS is now open for Registration!

November 30, 2023

The South Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School (SANCS) proudly announces the commencement of registrations for its upcoming edition, SANCS 24. This online Cyber Security school caters to postgraduate students and young to mid-career professionals interested in cybersecurity matters, specifically those based in Southern Africa or the Netherlands.

Meet the lecturers

Michel Rademaker
Michel Rademaker is one of the co-founders of HCSS and the Deputy Director. His fields of expertise include security strategy, policy, concepts and doctrines, technology assessments, geopolitical and economic security implications of climate change, raw materials and energy supply and serious gaming techniques.

At SANCS, he will host the ‘Cyber Resilience Game’, an online serious-game that allows students to practically engage with hypothetical cyber incidents.

Michel Rademaker

Deputy Director HCSS
Unathi Mothiba
Unathi Mothiba is a Cyber Security Specialist at Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Africa. A seasoned Product Manager who is passionate about technology and its ability to transform the African continent. His purpose is to drive digital transformation SECURELY through an understanding of the interdependencies among the people, processes, and technology

At SANCS, he will give a lecture on Cloud computing and cloud security: Digital Transformation – Cloud platforms and the associated Cyber Security risks.

Unathi Mothiba

Cyber Security Specialist at Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Africa
Arthur Laudrain
Arthur Laudrain is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Cyber Diplomacy at King’s College London and a Strategic Analyst in Cyber Policy at HCSS. He is an expert on emerging technologies and international affairs, foreign interference in democratic processes, information manipulation, cyber strategies and doctrines, for governments, think-tanks, and the private sector.

At SANCS, he will give a lecture on Information manipulation and subversion of democracy.

Arthur Laudrain

Postdoctoral Researcher in Cyber Diplomacy – King’s College London
Thomas Attema
Thomas is a senior researcher in the Applied Cryptography and Quantum Applications department of TNO and the Cryptology group of CWI. In 2023, he obtained his PhD at Leiden University. He focusses on the development of new cryptographic techniques capable of withstanding quantum attacks and allowing data to be analyzed in a privacy preserving manner.

At SANCS, Thomas will provide a lecture on the Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration. Quantum computers form a significant threat to many of the cryptographic primitives that are currently in use. To mitigate this threat a timely migration to new cryptographic primitives, capable of withstanding quantum attacks, is essential.

Thomas Attema

Senior Researcher at TNO
Brett van Niekerk
Prof Brett van Niekerk (PhD) is an associate professor at the Durban University of Technology, chairs the International Federation of Information Processing Working Group on ICT in Peace and War, and is Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Cyber Warfare and Terrorism. He is CISM certified, with over 80 publications and 30 presentations.

At SANCS, he will lecture on IoT (internet of things) Security, discussing the risks of IoT in enterprise and infrastructure networks, and measures to secure IoT deployments.

Brett van Niekerk

Associate Professor – Durban University of Technology
Charlotte Lindsey
Charlotte Lindsey is Chief Public Policy Officer at CyberPeace Institute. She is an experienced senior executive in digitalisation of organisations, tech policy and diplomacy, multilateral engagement, data and digital risk, as well as in security and crisis management, and communication.

At SANCS, she will provide a lecture on Attribution in Cyber Space.

Charlotte Lindsey

Chief Public Policy Officer – CyberPeace Institute
Frits Bussemaker
Frits Bussemaker is the chair of the ‘Institute for Accountability in the Digital Age’. An association instigated by UNESCO in 2017 aimed to help define instruments for, and manage accountability in the Digital Age. Bussemaker has a passion for bringing people together in the Digital Age. He has initiated and helped run a number of (international) communities focused on linking Information Technology, Innovation and Impact. He is a regular speaker on community building and chair at international events and has spoken all over the world.

At SANCS, he will give a lecture on Accountability in the Digital Age.

Frits Bussemaker

Chair Institute for Accountability in the Digital Age
Johan de Wit
Johan de Wit works for Siemens Smart Infrastructure Technical Officer Enterprise Security and is involved in global Siemens portfolio development. He owns a masters degree in Security Science and holds a PhD research position at Delft Technical University where he is exploring the characteristics of security risk assessments. He is a member of various expert communities and advisory boards like: the Dutch National Cyber Security Center, ASIS, Information Security Forum, Overseas Security Advisory Board (OSAC). He is a regular speaker at conferences and universities and publishes papers and articles.

At SANCS, he will give a lecture on Cybersecurity of Operational Technology (OT).

Johan de Wit

Technical Officer Enterprise Security at Siemens Smart Infrastructure
Maartje Peters
Maartje Peters is Head of International Cyber Policy at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Peters has an extensive professional background as a diplomat with a focus on different areas of foreign policy such as human rights, security and stability, migration and development cooperation in many regions of the world. Before being appointed in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Peters was working for the United Nations. She studied anthropology/development studies at Radboud University in Nijmegen.

At SANCS, she will participate in an Expert Panel on ‘Growing Diversity in the Cyber Security Workforce‘ during the Inaugural.

Maartje Peters

Head of International Cyber Policy – NL Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Pablo Rice
Pablo Rice is a Policy Officer in charge of cyber affairs at the Paris Peace Forum. In this capacity, he contributes to coordinating the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace, one of the main multi-stakeholder initiatives to advance common norms for human security in the ICT environment. His fields of expertise include cyber and hybrid policy, law of armed conflicts, arms control law and online content governance.

At SANCS, he will deliver a lecture aimed at unpacking the Cyber Mercenaries phenomenon and explore the current dynamics and remaining challenges in the global response to counter the proliferation of cyber intrusion capabilities.

Pablo Rice

Cyberspace Governance Policy Officer – Paris Peace Forum
Tima Soni
Tima Soni joined UNICC in 2016 as Head, Information Security Services. In 2019, she was appointed as Chief, Cybersecurity Division to oversee the cybersecurity programme for UNICC. Tima has worked to develop and implement information security programmes by delivering various information security initiatives including information security governance, risk management, security operations and security awareness as per industry best practices. She has helped UN Agencies in responding to complex cybersecurity incidents and developed cybersecurity roadmaps for many UNICC clients and partner organisations.

At SANCS, she will provide a lecture on Defending against future cyber threats.

Tima Soni

Chief, Cybersecurity Division at The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC)
Elmarie Biermann
Prof. Elmarie Biermann is the Director and founder of the Cyber Security Institute in South Africa, specialising in guiding organisations in identifying and managing cyber risks, as well as partnering with Universities and Institutes to provide specialised Cyber Security training to a global audience. An acknowledged speaker that regularly delivers keynotes at conferences, seminars and workshops and invited as a specialist panellist on cyber-crime, cyber warfare, and cyber intelligence. Her work at the University of Stellenbosch has also paved the way to assist the Faculty of Military Sciences in developing expertise in the cyber intelligence and cyber warfare arenas.

At SANCS, she will be providing a lecture on Cyber Risk Management: A Practical Introduction.

Elmarie Biermann

Director and founder of the Cyber Security Institute in South Africa
Bruce Watson
Bruce Watson is the Co-Director of AI Research at the African Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, and was the Founding Director of Computational Thinking for AI at the Centre for AI Research (CAIR). His career has spanned academia (as a professor at several prominent universities in both the Netherlands and South Africa), industry (with Microsoft and Cisco, among others), and national security. His fields of expertise include explainable AI, secure decision-making, cryptography, semiconductor design & manufacturing, and supply chain integrity.

At SANCS, he will provide a lecture on AI Implications in Cybersecurity. In this lecture, Bruce will explore recent advances in using AI to enhance cybersecurity, as well as the increasingly important converse situation of security AI‘s used in decision-making processes.

Bruce Watson

Co-Director of AI Research at the African Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence
Godert Jan van Manen
Godert Jan van Manen started his career in cyber as a civilian cyber security consultant at the Dutch Ministry of Defence. After his military deployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he co-founded Northwave, now one of the biggest Dutch based IT-Security companies. With over 20+ years of experience in the field of cyber security, Godert Jan is frequently asked as a speaker and lecturer.

At SANCS, he will provide a lecture on the Psychology of Ransomware.

Godert Jan van Manen

Co-founder of Northwave Cyber Security
Dumisani Gumbi
Dumisani Gumbi is an experienced ICT assurance professional whose experience of over 17 years arises from specialising in: IT Governance, Information Governance, Data Privacy, and IT Compliance. He is currently the Group IT Governance and Compliance Manager at a large listed South African Insurance Group, is the Deputy Chairperson of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Council and serves on the Board of Directors for ISACA’s South Africa Chapter as the Cape Regional director. Dumisani’s passion lies in areas of corporate and IT governance, responsible leadership, data privacy, legal technological research, and student mentorship.

At SANCS, he will be providing a lecture on Careers and Specialisation Pathways in Cyber Security.

Dumisani Gumbi

Group IT Governance & Compliance Manager at Sanlam
David Moepeng
David Moepeng is a qualified Cyber psychologist working as an Online Safety Specialist and Trainer across Africa. He specialises in educating internet users about online safety risks that impact their mental health and social well-being. Moepeng is the Founder and Programme Director of Cybersmart Botswana. He is also Lead Coordinator of the African Cybersmart Network, a Pretoria based NGO working to promote online safety in Africa through a network of organisations running online safety campaigns around the continent. He is a qualified and professional Trainer of Trainers on Cybersecurity for non-IT professionals, teachers, journalists and mental health professionals on supporting victims of cyber trauma and is a regular news commentator on online safety issues.

At SANCS, he will be providing a lecture on The Human Firewall - Cyber Awareness, Culture and Hygiene.

David Moepeng

Cyberpsychologist – Online Safety Specialist
Jabu Mtsweni
Dr Jabu Mtsweni is the Head of Information and Cyber Security Centre and Chief Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), NRF-Rated Researcher (C2), and a Certified Cybersecurity Manager, Research Fellow at the Stellenbosch University, and Technical Leader of the National Policy Data Observatory. Dr Mtsweni is an accomplished researcher and technology expert in the field of Computer Science, particularly in the areas of Cyber and Information Security. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed conference and journal articles over the years and regularly speaks as an invited speaker at local and international cybersecurity conferences.

At SANCS, he will participate in: ‘The state of Cyber Security in Southern Africa - Expert Industry Panel from across the Region.’

Jabu Mtsweni

Head of Information and Cyber Security Centre and Chief Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Douglas Mapuranga
Douglas Mapuranga is a technology leader with over twenty-five years of experience in the tech industry. He has led cross-functional teams implementing solutions in diverse industries. His expertise spans IT governance and management, cybersecurity, auditing, and operations. Mr. Mapuranga is a member of the British Computer Society, ISACA, Institute of Directors Zimbabwe, and the CyFi Working Group for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and is the author of "Sandbox or Quicksand? An Analysis of Zimbabwe’s Fintech Regulatory Sandbox." He is also an avid reader and speaker at technology conferences

At SANCS, he will participate in ‘The state of Cyber Security in Southern Africa - Expert Industry Panel from across the Region’.

Douglas Mapuranga

IT Consultant
Kerissa Varma
Kerissa Varma is the Managing Exececutive Cybersecurity Vodacom. Ms. Varma has a demonstrated history of building and scaling security capabilities across several industries including healthcare, telecommunications, transport, government and financial services and is a passionate advocate for technology and security. She currently leads Cybersecurity with dispersed teams across Africa for Vodacom and Vodafone and has held multiple multi-national CISO roles. She volunteers widely to increase cybersecurity skills across the globe with a keen focus in Africa and she is the founder and President of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Southern Africa and the Cybersecurity Digital Alliance (CDSA).

At SANCS, Kerissa will participate in an Expert Panel on ‘Growing Diversity in the Cyber Security Workforce‘ during the Inaugural.

Kerissa Varma

Managing Executive Cybersecurity Vodacom
Noëlle Van der Waag-Cowling
Noëlle Van der Waag-Cowling is the Cyber Programme Lead at SIGLA, Stellenbosch University. She has served as a member of the Group of Global Experts to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Tana Forum. She has featured in the Top 50 Women in Cyber in Africa and ‘Deloitte’s Global Women in Cyber’. Noëlle is also an affiliate member of the University of Canberra’s National Security Hub and research co-chair for the Carnegie Endowment’s Project for Cybersecurity and Financial Inclusion. She is a project research partner at the Mandela Mining Precinct and the SA program coordinator for SANCS 24.

In addition, at SANCS she will also be moderating two of the panel lectures.

Noëlle Van der Waag-Cowling

Cyber Programme Lead at SIGLA, Stellenbosch University
Simphiwe Hector Mayisela
Simphiwe Mayisela is the Managing Director at Simphiwe Security (SS) - Consulting, a company based in South Africa specialising in strategic and technical consultation in the field of Information Security, Governance, Risk and Compliance. He is also a Short-Term Expert in FinTech and CyberCrime at the SADC Secretariat. With a robust tenure of 21 years in the cybersecurity domain, wherein 15 years were spent in senior managerial capacities across diverse industry verticals such as Government, Gaming and Hospitality, Banking, Telecommunications, and more, Simphiwe’s expertise is both broad and profound. His career has seen him contribute substantially through published articles, guest lectures and international speaking engagements.

At SANCS, he will participate in ‘The State of Cyber Security in Southern Africa - Expert Industry Panel from across the Region’.

Simphiwe Hector Mayisela

Managing Director at Simphiwe Security (SS) – Consulting
Louk Faesen
Louk Faesen is a policy advisor on tech, cyber and counter-disinformation at the European Parliament. He previously worked as a Senior Strategic Analyst at the HCSS Cyber Policy and Resilience Program and was Project Manager of the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC). He researches and advises on numerous policy issues pertaining to the wider field of international cybersecurity and hybrid conflict. He co-edited paper series and authored numerous reports and articles, including on cyber norms and cybersecurity standards, disinformation and hybrid conflict, cyber military capabilities and deterrence, as well as the security implications of new technologies. He has also participated in international discussions on cyberstability inter alia at the UN, EU, OSCE and AUC.

At SANCS, he will provide a lecture on EU Regulation.

Louk Faesen

Policy Advisor at the European Parliament
Nanjira Sambuli
Nanjira Sambuli is a Kenyan researcher, policy analyst and strategist studying the unfolding, gendered impacts of digitalisation/ICT adoption on governance, diplomacy, media, entrepreneurship, and culture, especially in Africa. Nanjira is a Fellow in the Technology and International Affairs Program at The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and a Ford Global Fellow. She is also a board member at Development Gateway and Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) at the United Nations Foundation. Nanjira has led policy advocacy to promote digital equality in accessing and using the web at the World Wide Web Foundation. She previously worked at the iHub in Nairobi, where she provided strategic guidance for growth of technology innovation research in the East Africa region.

At SANCS, Nanjira will participate in an Expert Panel on ‘Growing Diversity in the Cyber Security Workforce‘ during the Inaugural.

Nanjira Sambuli

Fellow, Technology and International Affairs Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Nompumelelo Khumalo
Nompumelelo Khumalo Certified is the System Owner: Security Operations at Coca-Cola Beverages Africa. She is also an Information Systems Auditor, SABSA Foundation, has wide experience in performing IT Risk Assessments, IT Audits, Project Governance Audits, and managing teams on internal audits and also providing assurance on IT Risks on a consulting basis. Her specialties include Risk management in Banking and financial services institutions, special emphasis on Information Security, SDLC reviews, Application Control Reviews IT Infrastructure Reviews, Project Governance and Project Risk Assurance.

At SANCS, she will participate in an Expert Panel on ‘Growing Diversity in the Cyber Security Workforce‘ during the Inaugural.

Nompumelelo Khumalo

System Owner: Security Operations at Coca-Cola Beverages Africa
Justin Westcott
Justin Westcott is Chief Technology Officer at DataGr8, a South African based Cyber Security company. Justin spent 10 years in the South African National Defence Force as a military pilot before transitioning to the private sector. His experience in cyber security spreads across the consulting, training, and research domains. His passion for the Cyber Security domain lies in Cyber risk management, Vulnerability Management Maturity, and cyber skills development. His roots in Cyber Security stem from Penetration Testing, Digital Forensics, and drone technologies research. His private sector experience ranges to include assisting organisations in assessing Cyber Security postures, maturing vulnerability management processes, quantifying cyber resilience roadmaps, creating security-aware cultures, and mapping best practice frameworks to bespoke training of security specialists by means of facilitated, gamified cyber security training.

At SANCS, he will be providing a lecture on The Mitre Attack Framework & OT/IIoT.

Justin Westcott

Chief Technology Officer at Datagr8
Samantha Rule
Samantha Rule is the Head of Information and Cyber Security at Ninety One, an independent, active global asset manager. Samantha is an award winning technology leader and advocate for increasing the female representation in technology and cybersecurity. With a career spanning over two decades, Samantha’s seasoned expertise and innovative leadership in the cybersecurity domain and her passion for cultivating diverse, talented cybersecurity teams is evident. She has a distinct track record of designing and implementing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, distinctly aimed at protecting organisations from the increasing and evolving threat of cyber attacks.

At SANCS, she will be providing a lecture on Incident Response in Cyber Security.

Samantha Rule

Head of Information and Cyber Security at Ninety One
Shahrain Coovadia
Shahrain is a cybersecurity specialist working with South Africa’s leading premium retail group, Woolworths Limited. Shahrain comes with 6+ years experience managing both strategic and operational projects within this space. Shahrain was previously a manager at Deloitte, with experience across the cybersecurity practice (including security operations, cyber crises and resilience as well as cyber audits) working with multinationals across Europe and Africa. Shahrain also holds an honours degree in Infromation Systems from the University of Cape Town as well as multiple industry certifications.

At SANCS, she will be co-providing a lecture with Cobus Mentz on Offensive Vs. Defensive Cyber Security.

Shahrain Coovadia

Cybersecurity Specialist
Cobus Mentz
Cobus Mentz is a cybersecurity professional with over 10 years of experience, specializing in Red Team operations and offensive security techniques. He leverages his expertise to strengthen organisational defenses through penetration testing, threat hunting, and incident response. Currently at Woolworths SA, Cobus leads internal Red Team efforts and previously managed a Security Operations Center (SOC) team.

At SANCS, he will be co-providing a lecture with Shahrain Coovadia on Offensive Vs. Defensive Cyber Security.

Cobus Mentz

Cyber Security Specialist – Red Team at Woolworths SA
Nanette Watson-Saes
Nanette Watson-Saes is the founder of XPATTYCAKE International Business Communications, specialised in the application of ICT to support effective and efficient communication, and decision-making. In addition to her work as an international communication consultant, sworn translator and facilitator, Nanette is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Knowledge Dynamics and Decision Making at Stellenbosch University, where she guest-lectures on Group Decision Support Systems and Information Systems. Nanette’s research interest is in the application of emerging technologies such as AI, and how these can be applied to improve the efficacy and efficiency of communication and language solutions even further as well as make them more secure. She helped organise the THREAT2023 Cybersecurity conference in Stellenbosch, as well as various IFIP conferences, and is the SA PR coordinator for SANCS24.

At SANCS, Nanette will also be moderating on some of the lecture days.

Nanette Watson-Saes

International Business Communication Expert at XPATTYCAKE & Research Fellow at the Centre for Knowledge Dynamics and Decision Making, Stellenbosch University
Stephanie Govaerts
Stephanie Govaerts is the Communications and Events Assistant at HCSS. In this position, she is responsible for developing and executing communication strategies and materials for HCSS publications, projects, social media, PR, as well as managing press contacts, organising events and is the NL PR coordinator for SANCS24.

At SANCS, Stephanie will also be moderating on some of the lecture days.

Stephanie Govaerts

Communications and Events Assistant at HCSS
Berend Kwak
Berend Kwak is an Assistant Analyst at HCSS. His research focuses on critical raw materials, semiconductors, the energy transition, as well as broader foreign and economic policy in the EU, US and China. Additionally, Berend coordinates the HCSS Cyber Security Schools, The Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School and of course the South Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School.

At SANCS, Berend will also be moderating on some of the lecture days.

Berend Kwak

Assistant Analyst at HCSS

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will SANCS take place?

A: We are happy to announce that SANCS has been renewed for another year! SANCS25 will be held sometime between March – April 2025. SANCS24 was scheduled between 11 March and 18 April 2024. The lecture series commenced on 12 March and continued on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for the subsequent two weeks. The final lecture was set for 4 April 2024. Following this, a two-week challenge period unfolded, where students collaborated in groups to accomplish targeted tasks. The outcomes of the National Cyber Resilience Game and these challenges was unveiled during the closing week of SANCS, culminating in the closing ceremony on 18 April.

Q: How much time should I allocate for SANCS coursework and assignments?

A: Participants in SANCS are expected to engage on a part-time basis to ensure their academic commitments aren’t compromised. Generally, attendees will need to dedicate around 20 hours to lectures and 10 hours to assignments spread across four weeks.

Q: When will the final program details be disclosed?

A: The complete program details for SANCS25 will be made available closer to the start of the course, encompassing course specifics and instructors. Assignment details will be released midway through the courses, coinciding with the participant selection process from the student pool.

Q: I lack a background in Cybersecurity. Can I still apply for SANCS?

A: Absolutely! The lectures in SANCS are thoughtfully curated to cater to both newcomers to the field and those aiming to build upon existing knowledge.

Q: I don’t meet all the criteria. Can I still apply for SANCS?

A: Yes, motivation and your current Cybersecurity knowledge are taken into account. While priority is given to eligible and highly motivated applicants, partial fulfillment of criteria doesn’t preclude your application.

Q: Is there a participation fee?

A: There is no participation fee due to the generous contributions of our sponsors and partner organisations.

Q: How will courses be conducted?

A: This year’s courses will be conducted online. Participants need a digital device (desktop, laptop, or smartphone) with sufficient bandwidth to attend livestreamed lectures via Microsoft Teams.

**Please note that the email you register with on Eventbrite needs to be the same email you plan to attend the lectures with on Microsoft Teams. The attendance is automated; thus, we need the name and email that you use to be consistent. If you need to change your email, please simply re-register via Eventbrite.**

Download Microsoft Teams here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app

Q: What type of Certificate will I receive?

A: SANCS furnishes two types of certifications. Upon attending the initial lectures, participants earn a Certificate of Attendance. Completion of the Challenges, constituting the second phase, results in a Certification of Participation.

**Our certificates are also automated which is why it’s important to keep the name/email you use consistent, so you don’t miss out on receiving a certificate for the work you’ve done**

Q: What are the Certificate requirements?

A: Students attending at least 75% of the SANCS lectures obtain an official Certificate of Attendance. Successfully concluding challenges grants participants a Certificate of Participation.

Q: I still have a question, where can I ask it?

A: If you still have unanswered questions and/or want some further clarifications, please watch the online optional Q&A session that we hosted on February 27th from 15:00-16:00 SAST / 14:00-15:00 CET.

Michel Rademaker

Deputy Director

South Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School

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