Registration for the next CyberCenturion competition is now open; to register or to find out more visit https://cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk/competitions/cybercenturion.
Briefly, CyberCenturion is a country-wide cyber defence competition led by the security company Northrop Grumman and Cabinet Office-backed Cyber Security Challenge UK. Battling it out at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), ten teams will compete in a face-to-face challenge to protect a fictional company from cyber-attacks.
The candidates will be tasked with defending a start-up drone-based food delivery service – named ‘Always Food Available’ – using their cyber security skills to identify vulnerabilities in the company’s network and systems, repair the vital issues and maintain the company’s services, while fending off adversaries. The ten finalist teams are the top performers after qualifying rounds over the last six months between more than 100 teams from across the UK and Overseas Territories.
Competitors do not need experience in cyber defence; participants are provided with the training and preparation materials required. Organisers point out that as the cyber threat becomes more complex, workforce diversity is important in bringing different perspectives, academic backgrounds, experience and problem-solving approaches.
CyberCenturion aims to engage talented young people curious about cyber security and eager to put any cyber skills to the test. It mirrors the US CyberPatriot competition, part of youth STEM education in the United States, presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and created by the US Air Force Association.
The competitors include Maths Olympiad winners, Gold CREST award recipients and an individual who has written an artificial intelligence programme that can beat humans at chess. As a national, team-based cyber security contest, CyberCenturion is designed to address the nationwide STEM skills gap by opening up cyber security education to youth groups from every sphere of life; cadet corps, Scout groups and Girl Guides, to school clubs and community groups. A cyber security association (ISC)2 predicts a shortfall of 1.8 million cyber security professionals by 2022 if hiring trends continue.
The winning team will receive a bundle of technology equipment for their school to help further promote STEM and cyber careers; trophies and medals.
Cyber Security Challenge UK offers a series of games and competitions for all ages, visit www.cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk to sign up to play.
