Yubico equips next-gen cybersecurity talent through global youth-led hackathons and YubiKeys
Yubico supports international student-led hackathons as part of a wider effort to equip young talent with practical cybersecurity experience
Yubico, a provider of hardware-based authentication solutions, has expanded its Secure it Forward initiative by supporting more than 20 youth-led hackathon and technology events around the world.
The initiative aims to strengthen the cybersecurity pipeline by enabling students to develop hands-on skills in identifying and solving security threats.
Supporting student innovation through security tools
Formalized in 2021, the Secure it Forward program supplies YubiKeys, hardware security keys, to individuals and groups considered at high risk of cyberattack. This includes nonprofits, journalists, election campaigns, and, increasingly, educational hackathons. Yubico has distributed over 65,000 devices to hundreds of organizations in more than 20 countries to date.
The company’s recent activity includes support for hackathons organized by groups such as Scrapyard London (UK), BuildingBloCS (Singapore), and the Swedish National Hacking Team (Sweden), as well as university-led initiatives like the Computer Security Group at the University of Texas at Dallas (US).
“Hackathons provide students with an opportunity to gain hands-on cybersecurity experience outside the classroom,” says Nick Donovan, Computer Security Group, UT Dallas. “These events are critical for students. Events like TexSAW invert the standard approach used by several universities that may not have practical cybersecurity training. These events prepare students to start a successful career in the field.”
Promoting real-world engagement with cyber threats
The move aligns with industry efforts to combat the growing scale and complexity of digital threats. By investing in youth-oriented programs, Yubico seeks to encourage ethical hacking practices and technical problem-solving in early-stage careers.
“As we see cyber threats continue to rise globally, it’s more important than ever to equip the next generation of leaders with the tools and support they need to secure the future,” says Ronnie Manning, chief brand advocate at Yubico. “Since day one, our mission at Yubico has been to make the internet safer for everyone—not just through innovation and advancing open standards, but by investing in real-world experiences for young minds to grow, learn, and lead in cybersecurity.”
