Cyber security challenge gears up for competition week
1 min read
Hundreds of cyber security professionals will compete over the next few days to prove their credentials as the new programme of Cyber Security Challenge competitions gets underway.
The virtual stage of the QinetiQ Network Defence Competition, which kicked off today Friday (22 July 2011), and the SANS Packet Capture Analysis competition, which goes live next week, will test both the ability of cyber enthusiasts to identify vulnerabilities in IT networks and to protect systems exposed to simulated cyber-attacks.
Both are being run online and QinetiQ hopes to identify the most talented individuals from hundreds that registered to play, following the launch last month.
For the second year running, the Network Defence Competition has been developed by technology firm QinetiQ. It requires candidates to critique a technology network, or design a completely new one from scratch against a brief that is typical of those given to security professionals.
Unlike last year's competition, entry is aimed at individuals rather than teams. Charles Hodgson, director of the Network Defence competition at QinetiQ, says this has opened up the competition to a lot more candidates – and that all 500 places have been filled.
"Cyber security requires a rounded skill set with team players who can utilise everything they have at their disposal to deliver innovative solutions to difficult situations," states Hodgson.
"We are not just looking for technically competent people. The skills we are testing are in demand across the whole sector right now – especially in areas like penetration testing, digital investigations, information assurance consultancy, network administration and development of cyber strategy."
