The United States is looking to shore up its defenses against cyber-attacks and is turning to harness the skills of some of the country’s most promising young minds, using a model that mirrors esports. The U.S. Cyber Games has assembled a team of twenty-five Americans, ages 18-26, who will compete against other countries in the inaugural International Cybersecurity Challenge, scheduled to be held in Greece in June 2022.
“Practicing defenses in today’s world when all rules are changing is difficult. This helps them see what attacks look like in real life,“ said Jessica Gulick, Founder, and CEO of Katzcy, a northern Virginia-based digital marketing firm that is running the cybersecurity initiative, a partnership between the federal government, academia, and the private sector. “This is a safe place to see and apply those tactics. … Here, it’s okay to try and fail and try again and learn and mentor and get stronger.”
The cyber games consist of two broad formats, with the competitions organized and promoted to appeal to a generation raised on gaming. The goal is to identify and train candidates for careers in cybersecurity. There are king-of-the-hill-type games where one team attempts to break into a network while the other tries to defend it. There are also capture-the-flag-type games where teams must complete a series of puzzles that follow the basic tenets of cybersecurity programs, like decrypting an encrypted file or analyzing secret network traffic.
Traditionally, the United States has identified candidates for this department by selecting qualified Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen. It has drawn from undergraduate and graduate schools and, even, community job fairs. This new esports-style program hopes to bolster those numbers by proactively developing candidates for jobs in both the public and private sectors.
(All information was provided by The Washington Post)
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