East Greenbush, NY (PRWEB) February 01, 2012
The U.S. Cyber Challenge today launched registration for the first 2012 Cyber Quests competition, an online contest allowing participants to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of information security realms while competing for awards and recognition. The February 2012 Cyber Quest comprises a quiz-style assessment focusing on Industrial Control Systems (ICS), enabling players to increase their knowledge about cyber security issues impacting control systems. The Cyber Quest is open to all U.S. participants and registration is available online.
The competition is conducted in collaboration with the EnergySec in its role as the National Electric Sector Cybersecurity Organization (NESCO). The SANS Institute is the founding sponsor of Cyber Quests and continues to support the competitions implementation.
Participants will compete for a trip to the upcoming Power and Energy Cybersecurity Summit presented by EnergySec, where they will receive recognition for their victory and be given the opportunity meet and interact with cyber security leaders from across the energy sector.
The quiz and related material will be released to registered participants on February 15, 2012 and will remain open until February 29, 2012.
The Quest will challenge participants to identify technologies, examine communication protocols, and analyze embedded software routines used in industrial control applications. The competition will include an artifact for analysis and a quiz, with competitors having 24 hours from the time they begin to complete the quiz. Quiz score and completion time will determine winners.
This will be an opportunity to reach beyond traditional information systems and explore cyber security issues relevant to our most critical infrastructures, says Steve Parker, Vice-President, Technology Research and Projects at EnergySec. Industrial control systems are coming under increasing scrutiny, and we need to prepare the next generation workforce to understand and secure these environments.
Cyber Quest enables us to tap into the tremendous talent across our nation to identify those with a passion for security and a desire to put their skills to good use in addressing our cyber security workforce challenges, said Renee McLaughlin, Executive Director, USCC.
About U.S. Cyber Challenge:
The U.S. Cyber Challenge (USCC) is a national coalition of public-private sector entities collaborating to enhance the workforce with the next generation of cyber security professionals through skill development activities, mentoring, and resources, and the facilitation of scholarship, internship and employment opportunities.
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