We present feedback from our intern Iskren Ivanov, whose first task was to familiarize himself with the activities of the European Digital Innovation Hub “Trakia” not through an overview of our internal processes and procedures, but through the value we provide to small and medium-sized businesses and the public sector in Bulgaria. This value is organized into four areas: training courses and programs, cybersecurity services based on the “test before you invest” principle, consultations on access to financing, and services for collaboration with and between members of the EDIH Trakia innovation ecosystem.
In this article by Iskren, we provide first-hand feedback on what you can gain in terms of knowledge and skills if you enroll by the end of the year in one of our five monthly training courses on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, available as free services for employees and managers of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, as well as those involved in public organizations at the national or local level, including academic, cultural, health, and other institutions.
Enjoy reading, and thanks to Iskren from the whole team at ECIH Trakia for his active involvement in both the learning process and the Hub’s other work processes and projects. If you’d like to join our team as an intern, drop us a line at office@dihtrakia.org.
Two courses that changed the way I look at security
In today’s digital world, threats never sleep, and the ability to think and act like an ethical hacker is no longer just an advantage, but a necessity. In July, I had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in two exceptional courses organized by EDIH Trakia and led by the outstanding specialist Kremena Ivanova. Even more impressive is that both courses were completely free and took place after working hours, which allowed each of us to participate without disrupting our professional commitments.
📚 Course 1: Penetration Testing Fundamentals
Dates: July 9, 10, 14, and 15 (dates vary monthly)
This course was the perfect introduction to the world of ethical hacking and penetration testing (testing for vulnerabilities through intrusion). Kremena Ivanova managed to present complex concepts in a clear, structured, and extremely practical way. She always took time for questions, encouraged discussions, and gave us tasks to practice our new skills during the training.
Programme:
Seminar 1:
- Introduction to ethical hacking and penetration testing
- Planning and scope of the penetrating assessment
- Information gathering and vulnerability scanning
- Social engineering and attacking
Seminar 2:
- Exploitation of cable and wireless networks
Seminar 3:
- Exploiting vulnerabilities in applications
Seminar 4:
- Security in the cloud, mobile devices, and IoT
- Techniques after operation
- Reporting and communication of results
After those four days, I saw cybersecurity in a whole new light—I learned not only to recognize threats, but also to understand the logic behind attacks.
🎯 Course 2: Offensive Pentesting
Dates: July 23, 24, 28, and 29 (dates vary monthly)
The second course was a natural continuation, but with a much more offensive approach. Here, we didn’t just identify vulnerabilities—we learned how to exploit them, penetrate systems, and test their resilience. And here, Kremena continued to approach us with care and patience—she gave us time to ask questions, explained each step, and provided us with practical tasks so that we could consolidate our skills.
Programme:
Seminar 1:
- Introduction to ethical hacking and penetration testing
- Creating a laboratory environment
- Gathering information
- Scanning for vulnerabilities
Seminar 2:
- Exploitation of cable and wireless networks
Seminar 3:
- Working with public exploits
- Active Directory
- Windows authentication
- Password cracking
- Vulnerabilities „Windows buffer overflow“
Seminar 4:
- Techniques after operation
The training was like a “boot camp” for ethical hackers—intense, practical, and completely realistic. We worked in a controlled environment, but with real scenarios that completely immerse you in the role of a pentester.
💡 Why sign up?
- Inspiring teaching: Kremena knows how to convey even the most complex concepts in an accessible and engaging way, always encouraging questions and discussions.
- Practical focus: Each new topic was supported by exercises and tasks that helped us consolidate our knowledge.
- Flexible schedule: Holding the event after working hours allowed all participants to attend without having to sacrifice their professional commitments.
- Accessibility: Both courses were completely free of charge.
- Opportunity for additional/advanced training: As part of the training program at EDIH Trakia, Kremena also teaches the course “Web Hacking Fundamentals,” which I plan to enroll in and complete in one of the remaining months before the end of the year. For some students, it would be more convenient to take one course per month so that they can build on the knowledge they have acquired over the following months. This is the approach I recommend because the dates of the courses within a given month may overlap partially, and there may not be enough time between two lectures from two separate courses to consolidate the knowledge.
For me, these two courses, which I enrolled in and completed in July, were an investment in my future as a cybersecurity specialist. If you want to build on your knowledge and confidently enter the world of penetration testing, you can sign up for their future courses.
Cyber transition to the world of artificial intelligence with Peyo Staribratov
In July, I had another incredible opportunity—to participate in another Hub course on “Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence.” The training was led by Mr. Peyo Staribratov, a lecturer with extensive experience, a practical approach, and a genuine passion for technology. Even more impressive is the fact that this training, like the others provided by EDIH Trakia on a monthly basis, was completely free of charge — provided by EDIH Trakia as part of their mission to support digital transformation and access to knowledge for all who want to develop in this rapidly evolving field.
Why did I choose this course?
Artificial intelligence is now an integral part of our daily lives—from recommendations on social media to automated business processes. It was important for me to understand not only how it works, but also how I can use it in the real world. This course gave me exactly that – a clear, structured foundation, presented by an expert who knows how to explain and inspire.
The training
The training was divided into four evening sessions held after working hours, which was extremely convenient for busy people. The topics were arranged logically, with each subsequent topic building on the previous one.
Another big advantage was that the lecturer always left time at the end of each lecture for questions and discussions, and also gave us homework assignments that were practically oriented and helped us reinforce what we had learned through real-life cases and examples.
📅 July 8 – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
The first evening began with the basics—the history of AI, fundamental concepts, and methods for representing knowledge. Thanks to the way Peyo Staribratov explained things, even the most abstract topics sounded logical and understandable.
📅 July 10 – Machine Learning and Intelligent Systems
We delved deeper into the world of neural networks, AI system architectures, and machine learning methods. The information was presented with real-life examples and supported with additional resources for independent study at home.
📅 July 16 – AI in business
This session was extremely useful for practitioners—we looked at how artificial intelligence is applied in industries such as finance, marketing, healthcare, transportation, and education. The examples we looked at showed how AI not only supports business, but also gives it a strategic advantage.
📅 July 17 – AI, HPC, and Future Technologies
The final day gave us a glimpse into the future – we explored the interaction of AI with high-performance computing (HPC), as well as the connections with IoT, blockchain, and cyber-physical systems. The homework assignment for that day challenged us to think big and visionary – what lies ahead and how we can be part of the technological revolution.
🎓 What makes this training different?
✅ Excellent organization by EDIH Trakia
✅ Convenient schedule for working people
✅ Competent and inspiring teacher
✅ Time for questions and real discussions
✅ Practical homework assignments that encourage thinking and application
✅ Applicable knowledge, useful right now
✅ And last but not least – completely free participation
I highly recommend this course! If you want to take your first step into the world of AI or expand your knowledge in this field, don’t miss the next training course at ECIH Trakia. Peyo Staribratov will guide you on the path to knowledge in such a way that you won’t even notice how the complex becomes logical and the theory becomes applicable.