Hackers Beware: Midwest Collegaite Cyber Defense Competition Is Going Strong

Online, March 19, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta warned that the United States is facing the possibility of a "cyber-Pearl Harbor." According to the National Security Agency, our country is increasingly vulnerable to foreign computer hackers who could dismantle the nation's power grid, transportation system, financial networks, and government. President Obama has declared that the "cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation".

So far in 2013 the U.S. has experienced an unusually high number of attacks on businesses. These attacks included many U.S. banks in addition to a massive cyber-espionage campaign against The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Bloomberg News. In response to the escalating cyber attacks, the U.S. Department of Defense is developing offensive cyber capabilities and plan on having 13 cyber warfare "teams" in place by 2015.

In order to combat the expanding threat of cyber terrorism and cybercrime, our education system is ramping up efforts to prepare top students for careers in cyber defense. In particular, the nation's community colleges are offering technology-based programs designed to prepare current students for careers in cyber security.

The National Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA) has been stepping up to the plate since 2005, training students to become the next generation of cyber security specialists. Programs are designed to enable students to use the latest technologies to detect, deter and protect our nation's digital infrastructure. However, according to Dr. John Sands, professor of information technology and co-principal investigator for CSSIA at Moraine Valley Community College, "It takes more to prepare a cyber security specialist than just traditional classroom instruction."

The key to success in preparing students for careers in cyber security is to provide real-world practice through competitions. "We invest many hours in developing competitions that are designed to test cyber security skills in real world scenarios. These competitions enable students from other institutions to compete against each other by detecting, deterring and protecting their network from highly-skilled penetration testers (a.k.a. hackers) hired to attack their computers," said Erich Spengler, director/principal investigator of CSSIA.

More than 300 students competed in the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition Midwest state qualifiers throughout February. The winning teams from each state will gather on March 22 and 23 at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Ill., for the Midwest Collegiate Cyber Defense Regional Championship Competition (MWCCDC).

An important outcome of this event is job recruitment. The student participants at the MWCCDC have the knowledge and experience to give them a major advantage into the workforce. Sponsoring businesses come to observe, interview and offer jobs on-site to students during the competition.

All students who compete have their resumes ready and are prepared to interview during the event. Sponsoring businesses are invited to set up a recruiting table on Friday, March 22, to observe potential employees in action. At 9 p.m., sponsors will have an opportunity to discuss career options during CSSIA's Industry Fair.

For more information, contact Lynn Dohm at [email protected].