Cybersecurity firm Resecurity and Asia Pacific College (APC) have partnered to develop cybersecurity skills among students as businesses face growing digital threats and a shortage of qualified professionals.
The partnership was highlighted by a two-day Capture the Flag (CTF) competition held on Sept. 17-18, 2026, which challenged participants to identify system vulnerabilities, solve security problems and investigate digital evidence in simulated cybersecurity scenarios.
Participants attended a three-hour workshop on cryptography, web exploitation and digital forensics led by industry practitioners before competing for three hours and 40 minutes at APC’s Security Operations Center Laboratory.
Team Base67, led by Jhon Lloyd Nicolas, won the competition with 4,000 points. CYNEXT, led by Miles Angelo Gemillan, placed second with 3,000 points, while Hansa, led by Vince Nelmar Alobin, finished third with 2,500 points. Nicolas and Alobin tied for the highest individual scores.
The initiative reflects efforts by industry and educational institutions to prepare students for cybersecurity roles as businesses become increasingly reliant on digital platforms, data systems and online transactions.
Resecurity said a larger pool of trained professionals could help organizations strengthen their defenses, respond to security incidents and maintain business continuity.
AI reshapes cybersecurity risks
The partnership comes as artificial intelligence (AI), geopolitical tensions and workforce shortages reshape the cybersecurity landscape, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026.
About 94% of respondents expected AI to be the biggest driver of change in cybersecurity over the following year, while 87% identified AI-related vulnerabilities as the fastest-growing cyber risk in 2025.
AI can improve threat detection and response, but it can also enable more sophisticated cyberattacks. Geopolitical tensions are adding to concerns over attacks targeting critical infrastructure, prompting organizations to incorporate geopolitical risks into their cybersecurity strategies.
The WEF report found that 64% of organizations included geopolitically motivated cyberattacks in their risk strategies.
Cyber-enabled fraud is also a growing concern. About 73% of respondents said they or someone in their network had experienced cyber-enabled fraud in 2025, while 77% reported an increase in fraud and phishing.
The report also highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities and shortages of cybersecurity expertise, underscoring the need for closer cooperation among governments, businesses and technology providers, alongside greater investment in workforce development and responsible AI governance.
For businesses, the findings point to the need to combine investments in cybersecurity technology with workforce development to identify vulnerabilities, manage emerging threats and protect critical systems.
