The Cybersecurity Hackathon Has Launched: Mkhitar Hayrapetyan Emphasized the Importance of Cyber Defense

On July 9, the RA Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, participated in the opening ceremony of the Cybersecurity Hackathon in Tsaghkadzor, organized within the framework of cooperation between the Ministry and the Armenian Information Systems Agency.

Welcoming the participants and highlighting the importance of organizing such events, Minister Hayrapetyan noted that especially in recent years, the Government has been extensively discussing the need to expand state capabilities in the field of cyber defense, to properly protect critical infrastructures and vital services, as well as to develop human capital with relevant professional qualifications.

“Should we remain committed to the agenda of digital transformation and become a technologically advanced country while facing the risks of cyber vulnerabilities and the new threats stemming from them, or should we fear, withdraw, and abandon this agenda? I believe this dilemma no longer exists—we have made our choice, and that is a digitized Armenia,” said Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, emphasizing that Armenia will not step back from its aspiration to become a regional technological hub and will confidently move forward on that path while, at the same time, making major investments in the fields of cyber defense and information security.

Nerses Yeritsyan, Director of the Armenian Information Systems Agency, also greeted the participants and wished them success. He stressed the importance of public-private cooperation, of which this program is one of the best examples.

The hackathon will take place from July 9 to 11. Dozens of specialists from government agencies, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and critical service providers are participating. The teams will propose technological solutions to the challenges presented. The three teams offering the best solutions will be awarded 2.5 million, 1.5 million, and 1 million AMD, respectively.

The purpose of the event is to strengthen the capacities and preparedness of IT, information security, and cybersecurity specialists to withstand cyber threats and challenges, and to promote cooperation among critical infrastructures to enhance the resilience in responding to cyber incidents.