Move over Fortnite and Overwatch鈥搕here鈥檚 a new game in town. Provided by the SANS Institute and funded by the National Science Foundation, CyberStart is an online game for students with extraordinary problem-solving skills who are interested in learning more about cybersecurity.
All students with an appetite for challenges (and pizza) are invited to the CyberStart launch party on Friday, Feb. 14, at 3 p.m. in 200 Falk College. Attendees will have the opportunity to demo the CyberStart video game and talk with cybersecurity experts from 黑料不打烊.
黑料不打烊 is one of just nine universities selected by the SANS Institute to participate in the CyberStart program. Chief Information Security Officer Chris Croad and Professor Shiu-Kai Chin from the College of Engineering and Computer Science have partnered to bring CyberStart to campus.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited that we鈥檙e able to bring this opportunity to all of our students,鈥� Croad said. 鈥淐yberStart will help students across all majors learn about a field that effectively has negative unemployment.鈥�
In addition to career opportunities, CyberStart offers a chance to think about the 鈥減romise and pitfalls of cyberspace,鈥� according to Chin.
鈥淥ur society is increasingly a cyber-physical one, where how we live and what we can do depends on decisions made by electronic systems,鈥� Chin said. 鈥淧eople who understand the cyber nature of the world can help shape it to become a more positive version of itself.鈥�
The CyberStart program offers students across all disciplines an opportunity to learn more about the cybersecurity profession, test their problem-solving skills and learn new technology. The first round (CyberStart Go) consists of unscored gameplay. At the end of the first round, interested students will have the opportunity to move on to the competitive round (CyberStart Game) in March. CyberStart Game offers more advanced challenges and is scored by ITS. The top scorers from the second round will be recognized at a champions鈥� reception and will receive access to CyberStart Essentials, which provides a deep dive into cybersecurity technology equivalent to roughly 70 hours of professional training.
鈥淢y hope is students from all academic areas will give this a try,鈥� Croad said. 鈥淎lthough they might lack the classic 鈥榗yber skills,鈥� students who excel in critical thinking and problem solving could discover that they want to further explore the cybersecurity discipline.鈥�
