Cyber Centurion

Cyber Centurion is a cyber security competition for secondary school children,[1] run in the United Kingdom by STEM Learning.[2] It mirrors CyberPatriot, the US version run by the Air Force Association.[3] Cyber Centurion is sponsored by Northrop Grumman[4][5] in an initiative to try to build awareness for cyber security among school children.[6][7]

History

Cyber Centurion was set up in 2014 after the success of its US counterpart CyberPatriot and its first final took place at The National Museum of Computing on 17 April 2015.[4] The main aim of Cyber Centurion is the same as its US counterpart; to excite, educate and motivate children towards careers in STEM subjects, with an emphasis on Cyber Security.[8] It is also due to the large deficit in Cyber Security professionals. Northrop Grumman, the sponsors of both CyberPatriot and CyberCenturion hope that it will inspire youths towards choosing Cyber Security as a career.[9]

Competition format

Tracks and categories

CyberCenturion is split into two age categories, each with four 'tracks'.[2] This is done to encourage more diversity in the competition.[10] The younger age category is for students in English year groups 7 to 9 (or equivalent) and the older category is for students in English year groups 10 to 13 (or equivalent).[2]

Within the age categories, the tracks split teams into four more groups, with a boys-only track, a girls-only track, a mixed team track and a cadet track.[2]

Places for the final are awarded in the following number of ways:

  • "Junior category: one place for the top team of each category (girls, boys, mixed and cadets) and the highest scoring team from all tracks combined" [2]
  • "Senior category: one place for the top team of each category (girls, boys, mixed and cadets) and the highest six scoring teams from all tracks combined" [2]

Rounds

There are four main rounds[11] with Rounds 1, 2 and 3 being online qualifying rounds where "teams will be provided with a mixture of Windows and Linux virtual machines with the aim to find and fix the vulnerabilities along with answering forensics questions".[12]

Round 4 is the National Finals round, where qualifying teams compete face to face to win the top prize.[11]

Prior to the four main rounds, there are up to four other 'introductory' rounds where teams play but do not score any points.[12] These are as follows:[12]

  • Exhibition Round 1
  • Exhibition Round 2
  • Training Round
  • Practice Technical Round

General rules

"The competition is played by teams of between two and four competitors, with up to one reserve who is used in the case of illness, and a responsible adult acting as the liaison between the organisers and the participants, and every team participant must be in English year groups Year 7 - Year 13 (Or equivalent). The competition is open to anyone in Europe that meets the age requirements and has the correct team format (including leader). Each team must play a series of online qualifying rounds, which will challenge them to learn about networking, coding and cyber security. If the team scores higher than most of the other players and makes it to the leaderboard, then they will be invited to play in the National Final, a face-to-face competition which finds the ultimate champion for the year."[2]

  • The Qualification Competition starts as soon as the virtual image is booted and ends 6 hours later. The score is logged regularly and a live scoreboard is released during the competition to competitors. Breaching the time limit will result in penalties.
  • Only a single instance of the image may be opened at one time.

Previous winners and finals

In CyberCenturion I, the finals were held in Block H, the original home of Colossus, of The National Museum of Computing in April 2015,[4] with KEGS Young Engineering Club at King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford becoming the first CyberCenturion winners and The Chase School, Malvern being the runners up.[13][14]

In CyberCenturion II, the finals were held at The National Museum of Computing in April 2016,[15] with "G-Sec" from Bayside Comprehensive School, Gibraltar being first-place winners.[15] The top prize was technology equipment to promote help promote STEM in their school.[16]

In CyberCenturion III, the finals were held at the Institution of Engineering and & Technology in the Maxwell Library in April 2017.[17]

  • The team "SPS 'B'" from St Paul's School, London were the first-place winners, winning a selection of prizes; from books for their school, to a unique piece print of a letter from Churchill and lunch with the senior members of Northrop Grumman Corporation and Cyber Security Challenge UK.[18]
  • "SPS 'A'", another team from St Paul's School, London, were also the second-place winners.[16]
  • Team CyberMen, from King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, were the third-place winners.[16]

In CyberCenturion IV, the finals were held at the Institution of Engineering & Technology in March 2018.[2]

  • "You really can't 'c' me", from St George's School Edgbaston in Birmingham, were the first-place winners, winning the prize of an all-expenses paid trip to the United States.[19]
  • Second place winners were "Saved by Bell"[20] from St Paul's School, Barnes[21]
  • Third place winners were "Vault 7" from Frome College.[22]
  • There were also awards for top all-boys, mixed, all-girls and cadets teams.[21] The all-boys team were from St. George's School Edgbaston, the mixed team were from St. Paul's School, Barnes, the all-girls team were from Bayside Comprehensive School, Gibraltar and the cadet team were from Sandbach School Combined Cadet Force.[21]

CyberCenturion V finals took place in the Plexal Technology Park, London on the 7th March 2019

  • Junior division winners were "CyberAces",from the Isle of Man Code Club.

The CyberCenturion VII finals took place virtually in 2021, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

  • Senior winners was the team "[sunglass emoji]".[23]
  • 2nd place was obtained by the "CyberAces".[23]
  • 3rd place was awarded to "<Error 404 Team Name not Found>", St Georges School Edgebaston.[24]
  • Junior Devision winners were "SGSE Y9", St Georges School Edgebaston.[24]
  • 2nd Junior Team were "Caesar Cypher", Trinity School Croydon.[24]
  • 3rd Junior Team were "Sombody", Bayside School Gibraltar.[24]

2022 saw CyberCenturion VIII go ahead, wherein the finals took place in the Hendon Royal Airforce Museum.[25][26]

  • "CyberAces", from the Isle of Man Code Club, won 1st place in the senior's division.[25][26]
  • "Bishop Team 3", from Bishop Stopford School, won 1st place in the junior's division.[27]

In 2023, the CyberCenturion IX finals went ahead at the National STEM Learning Centre in the University of York.[28]

  • "CyberAces", from Isle of Man Code Club won again in the senior's division.[28]
  • The 1st place in the junior's division went to "I am Root" also from Isle of Man Code Club.[28]
  • 2nd place was won by the team dubbed "Suspicious Impostors" and the 3rd place was won by the team "Maurice Security".
  • This is the first time that two teams from the British Crown Dependencies won both 1st place in the junior's and senior's division.

See also

References
  1. "Cyber Centurion Infographic" (PDF). cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. "CyberCenturion - STEM Learning". STEM Learning. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  3. "CyberPatriot". Northrop Grumman. Northrop Grumman. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  4. "National CyberCenturion Final at TNMOC". www.tnmoc.org. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  5. Solomon, Howard (27 April 2016). "Facing the Canadian infosec job problem: A 'mess and an opportunity'". IT World Canada. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  6. "CyberCenturion". Northrop Grumman. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  7. "Cyber Security - A Guide to Programmes and Resources for Schools & Further Education" (PDF). HM Government. Cyber Security Challenge Schools Programme (Cyber Security Challenge). Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  8. "Cyber Patriot/Centurion Quick Facts" (PDF). Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  9. "Cyber Centurion - Northrop Grumman Corporate Responsibility". Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  10. "CyberCenturion: encouraging diversity - Cyber Security Challenge UK". Cyber Security Challenge UK. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  11. "CyberCentuion V - 2018/19 Calendar" (PDF). Cyber Security Challenge UK. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  12. "CyberCenturion - Alpha Charlie". Alpha Charlie. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  13. "2015 CyberCenturion Winners". www.tnmoc.org. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  14. Hale, Robert (25 April 2015). "Chase students are cyber champions". Mazvern Gazette. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  15. "2016 CyberCenturion Winners Announced - Cyber Security Challenge UK". Cyber Security Challenge UK. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  16. "Northrop Grumman Announces Winners of 2017 CyberCenturion National Finals to Find Cyber Security Talent of the Future". Northrop Grumman Newsroom. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  17. "CyberCenturionIII National Finals - Cyber Security Challenge UK". Cyber Security Challenge UK. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  18. "Company congratulates 2017 winners and highlights the global need for increased diversity in STEM and cyber education". Cyber Security Challenge UK. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  19. "Birmingham-based teens crowned as Britain's best code-breakers, Solihull - News - Solihull TownTalk". www.solihull.towntalk.co.uk. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  20. Hill, Michael (8 March 2018). "The Institution of Engineering and Technology Hosts CyberCenturion 2018 Finals". Infosecurity Magazine. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  21. "Northrop Grumman Announces Winners of 2018 CyberCenturion Competition to Find Diverse Cyber Security Talent of the Future". Northrop Grumman Newsroom. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  22. "Frome College cyber team placed 3rd in the UK! - Frome College". www.fromecollege.somerset.sch.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  23. "CyberCenturion 7 Winners Press Release".
  24. "CyberCenturion 7 eMagazine".
  25. "Manx Team Win First Place in National Cybersecurity Competition".
  26. "Isle of Man Code Club Celebrate Victory".
  27. "Announcement of CyberCenturion 8 Winners".
  28. Turton, Sam (21 April 2023). "Code Club Clinch Titles". Gef - Isle of Man. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
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