NCyTE Cyber Career Challenge
Information Session

February 12, 2024
11:00 am PST

The information session covers the workshop expectations, assignments, schedule, and details about the virtual environment. Students must attend an information session to be eligible to apply.

NCyTE's virtual Cyber Career Challenge provides students with real-world cybersecurity workforce experience. Students will work virtually in teams to configure, operate, protect, and defend a small network of machines. 

Students from community colleges, technical colleges, and universities are encouraged to apply. Students have used the workshop in the past to complete an internship or co-operative education program requirement. Students should inquire at their institution about how they can turn the challenge into credits.

Student Eligibility

• Students must have completed introductory courses in networking and cybersecurity. 
• Students must attend an information session.
• Students must complete a team commitment agreement.

Schedule

• March 4 - Workshop begins: Introduction to program work roles
• March 11 - Introduction to the network requirements and team selection
• March 18 - Network admin basics, Kanban, Gantt charts, Visio diagrams
• March 25 to  May 3 - Teams work independently and receive guidance on network management and pentest prep
• May 6 - Pentest
• May 9 - Team presentations
• September 13 (Optional) Virtual Career Fair

Students work in teams of three

• Develop a project plan for an Information System that supports a fictitious business.
• Utilize project management tools for communication and project implementation.
• Operate a network of nine devices within the technical requirements specified.
•  Defend their network against a penetration test.
• Analyze the network for any evidence of attacks or compromise resulting from penetration testing.
• Present their approach to operating the network and findings from the penetration test.

Faculty Lead

Vincent Nestler

Senior Personnel, NCyTE Center

Associate Professor, California State University - San Bernardino

NCyTE is funded by National Science Foundation Grant #2054724