[Infowarrior] - Inaugural Maryland Cyber Challenge & Conference (MDC3) Now Enrolling Teams

[Richard Forno]

(Disclosure: I am co-chair of the Steering Committee. --- rick)

Inaugural Maryland Cyber Challenge & Conference (MDC3) Now Enrolling Teams

Posted April 20, 2011

http://www.umbc.edu/blogs/umbcnews/2011/04/inaugural_maryland_cyber_chall_1.html

Baltimore -- Organizers of the Maryland Cyber Challenge & Conference (MDC3) announced today that registration is now open for high school students, college students and cybersecurity professionals who wish to compete for scholarships and prizes in this inaugural event to be held October 21-22 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The competition is seeking teams of up to six players who will compete in three divisions of competition: high school, college or university, and professional. The competition is open to any student enrolled in a Maryland high school, college or university, or any professional employed by a company or government agency with an office in Maryland.  (http://www.mdc3.org/)

Potential competitors only need a basic knowledge of Windows and UNIX to participate, and will have the opportunity to learn how the challenge games will be played during an orientation session. The first of three orientation sessions for competitors will be held May 2 at UMBC in the main seminar room of the Incubator and Accelerator building, bwtech at UMBC South (1450 South Rolling Road, Baltimore, MD 21227). Orientation for professionals will be held from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., and for high school and college students from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Anyone interested in registering a team for the competition should attend an orientation session; those who cannot attend in person will be able to access the session online. Additional orientation sessions will be held May 18 and June 21. Once teams register, they will be able to participate in practice competitions throughout the summer to prepare for the MDC3 qualifying rounds to be held in September. Full competition details and registration information are available on both the MDC3 website (www.MDC3.org) and Facebook page (search "Maryland Cyber Challenge").

By participating in MDC3, competitors will have the opportunity to learn and develop skills and techniques needed to protect vital information systems while participating in a fun, competitive, team-based activity. Throughout the challenge, high school teams will practice basic cyber defense techniques, while university and professional teams will use more advanced forensic techniques and employ both offensive and defensive strategies in a head-to-head "capture the flag" challenge.

Beginning in September, two qualifying rounds will be held online using SAIC's Cyber Network Exercise System (CyberNEXS), a scalable training, exercise and certification system. The second qualifying round will determine the final eight teams from each division - high school, college and university, and professional - that will go on to compete in person at the October conference. Winners of each division will receive their trophies and awards at a formal ceremony to be held at UMBC in November.

MDC3 was designed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI] and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), in partnership with the Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED), the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) to encourage more students and young professionals to pursue careers in cybersecurity. The event will further DBED and Governor Martin O'Malley's "Cyber Maryland" initiative to position Maryland as the nation's epicenter of cybersecurity and innovation. Throughout the conference, students and young professionals will have the opportunity to network with cybersecurity leaders and recruiters while learning about careers in cyber technology.

About the Maryland Cyber Challenge & Conference (MDC3)

The inaugural Maryland Cyber Challenge & Conference (MDC3) will be held October 21-22 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The event will give teams of high school students, college and university students, and professionals the opportunity to learn about cybersecurity and develop practical skills for defending computers while competing for scholarships and prizes in a fun environment. The conference will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions and vendor booths for an audience of students, parents and professionals from academia, industry and government. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are both available. MDC3 was created by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI] and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in partnership with the Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED), the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) with the goal of encouraging Maryland students and young professionals to pursue education and careers in cybersecurity. MDC3 supports the State of Maryland's initiative to become the nation's epicenter for innovation in cybersecurity. For more information, please visit www.MDC3.org.