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Nora Fernandez Fernandez
The initiative Bug Bounty Program URJC is an error rewards program, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity skills in students of Information and Communications Technology Degrees.
The programme, which has been a finalist in the Digital Skills Awards Spain, consists of finding vulnerabilities in the URJC's computer network, as well as in its applications, in order to later report them and have them corrected.
Bug Bounty Program URJC It is promoted by the URJC Vice-Rector for Transformation and Digital Education and began its journey in 2019. After this tour, Alberto Sánchez Campos, the Vice-Rector of this area, wanted to highlight the great work that the institution has done in terms of digital transformation . "Being a finalist for this award joins the list of recognitions that we have received at the URJC for the great effort that has been digitalized. In this particular case, we have opted for the improvement of talent in cybersecurity, allowing practice in a controlled environment but real, as is the University itself", he comments.
For students, this program is a unique opportunity to develop high-level digital skills. This has been pointed out by José Antonio Rubio Blanco, Head of Information Security at the URJC, stating that "this is a great opportunity for students to learn about the professional world related to vulnerability analysis, where there is a growing need of professionals who ensure the proper functioning of information systems".
In addition, participation in the program includes academic recognition of credits (RAC) and the obtaining of an accreditation certificate for those students who find vulnerabilities. The best proposal receives a prize in the form of a technological device provided by a leading cybersecurity company in the market.
The URJC, a pioneer in Spain in the Bug Bounty program
The URJC emerged as a pioneer university in Spain –and in the field of Spanish Public Administration–, in the introduction of these programs, joining prestigious international educational institutions that already had Bug Bounty programs, such as Stanford University, the Drexel University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The program has the collaboration of a leading international provider in the cybersecurity sector that provides a prize for the best work. In past editions, companies such as Telefónica or Eleven Paths have participated. The current call has the collaboration of Palo Alto Networks, an American multinational cybersecurity leader in the market.
Digital Skills Awards Spain 2022
The Digital Skills Awards Spain, promoted by Ametic, “identify, value and recognize the best projects and experiences in the field of developing talent that enables digital skills”.
The awards have seven categories, including 'More and better trained ICT professionals', in which the URJC is a finalist. In this same group, the URJC competes with three other applications more, presented by Atos Spain, Repsol and Club-BPM.
The Awards Gala will be held on October 20 within the framework of the V Forum of the Alliance for the Development of Digital Talent.