IT STUDENTS THRUST INTO REAL-WORLD CYBER SECURITY ENVIRONMENT

iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu Information Technology students were recently immersed in the world of cyber defence and digital threat management during an intensive cyber security networking workshop aimed at exposing them to real-world industry challenges.

Focused on students pursuing qualifications in Networking and Information Support, the initiative sought to equip aspiring IT professionals with practical skills, analytical thinking, and the ability to respond under pressure in rapidly evolving digital environments.

Facilitated by Tiyani Nghonyama, co-founder of a youth digital innovation platform, Geekulcha, the workshop placed strong emphasis on practical learning and industry readiness.

“We’re going to make it practical and interactive because we truly enjoy working closely with young people in higher education. We are here to encourage and support students to become both offensive and ethical role-players within the cyber security and network infrastructure space. Young people need to understand the responsibility that comes with protecting digital systems and information,” said Nghonyama.

He explained that the workshop aimed to ignite curiosity while exposing students to the realities of cybercrime, ethical hacking, and digital defence strategies.

Leading the technical engagement was Mario Lovecchio, cyber security specialist and Associate Director at SNODE Technologies, a South African company operating within the cyber defence and digital threat management sector.

Lovecchio guided students through practical exercises and simulated cyber incidents rooted in real industry environments.

“In cyber security, technical knowledge alone is not enough. One needs problem-solving ability, teamwork, communication skills, and the capacity to remain calm under pressure. Cyber threats evolve every day, and professionals in this field must constantly adapt and think critically,” said Lovecchio.

More than 70 students participated in the workshop and were divided into groups of five to investigate and solve a series of cyber security and networking challenges developed by the SNODE team.

The simulated scenarios mirrored real-life cyber incidents and included suspicious authentication events, malicious scheduled task detection, rogue administrator accounts, memory dump analysis using Volatility 3, and suspicious external access involving system configuration backups.

Advanced Diploma student Clement Kgalema described the experience as eye-opening.

“During the workshop, I learned the importance of writing a report while at the same time solving problems or monitoring systems. The workshop showed me how cyber security is not just theoretical, but a critical real-world necessity. It helped me understand how frequently cyber-attacks occur and how they impact businesses and individuals,” said Kgalema.

By Thando Cezula