A new Lebanese achievement has been made by a young 15-year-old named Elia Tannous, who describes himself as a "Cybersecurity Analyst" and an "enthusiastic vulnerability hunter" according to his LinkedIn profile. Elia was one of the youngest speakers at the GITEX exhibition in Dubai, the largest technology event in the Middle East and one of the most prominent globally. His remarkable talent has attracted several companies, including PROW and REVOTIPS, which have adopted him as an ambassador in launching their mentorship program aimed at creating a conducive environment for professional learning and leadership in the era of digital transformation.
In an interview with "An-Nahar," Elia shares his story in the world of cybersecurity, saying: "It is true that I am a student in the first year of high school, but I have always felt something pulling me towards the world of cybersecurity. I would watch movies and be drawn to the hacker characters. After some research, I discovered that hacking could be ethical (ethical hacking) and help the world rather than harm it. That’s when I started studying a number of lessons with major companies in this field, including Cisco and IBM, to reach what I have achieved today."
Elia talks extensively with great enthusiasm and passion about the importance of the cybersecurity sector, warning against neglecting this field due to the dramatic shortage of human resources working within it. He pointed out that if this shortage continues in the future, companies may not find people to protect their cybersecurity, leading to potentially disastrous consequences.
As for the reasons behind the shortage of human resources in the sector, Elia states: "There are multiple reasons, with many parties responsible for this shortage. At the forefront are the companies that still refuse to hire anyone who does not have a university degree and experience in this field, although the most distinguished people in the world of cybersecurity, who execute major hacking operations, are between the ages of 14 and 17, and they certainly do not have any university degrees!"
Elia adds another reason, stating that companies want to hire individuals who come to the office without considering the possibility of hiring talented people who can work remotely.
In response to a question about whether the local environment in Lebanon supports emerging talents in the field of cybersecurity and technology in general, Elia asserts that this environment is far from supportive. He points to a series of social reasons related first to family and the limited mindset of some parents who are not aware of the vast opportunities that modern specializations offer their children. They still cling to traditional fields of study and work, such as becoming a "lawyer" or "doctor," for example.
Additionally, there is also a problem on the academic front, as the outdated curriculums do not assist the new generation, confining them to limited fields where many may not find themselves. Moreover, companies in Lebanon, like those outside, also do not encourage youth to develop their technological abilities since they only hire those with university degrees.
Elia addresses Lebanese youth who are eager to enter the "cyber" world, confirming that all the necessary resources for developing their skills in this field are publicly available online, just a click away from them. Therefore, there are no excuses for those who genuinely want to learn this subject, as all they need, according to Elia, is their own computer.
