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Cyber defense team to move on to regionals
In their first contest, Jackson Community College’s cyber defense team took second place in the recent Michigan/Ohio Collegiate Cyber Defense competition held at Eastern Michigan University on Feb. 16-18, out of seven teams competing. The team now qualifies to move on to the Midwest Regional competition at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Ill., on March 16 through 18.
The JCC team competed against teams from both two-year and four-year institutions. Taking first place was Baker College of Flint, and third place went to Washtenaw Community College. JCC students participating in the event include Ryan Bradley, Allison Dunphy, Brandon A. Erlacher, Aaron Gustwiller, Darrell Jones, Karl Murray, Mark Williams, and Chris Sturgill, team captain. The group’s advisor is Assistant Professor Larry Choate.
“We were hopeful, but weren’t sure what our results would be since this is our first time in competition. When they announced us as the second place winners, the whole team just erupted!” Choate said.
The cyber defense competition allows institutions of higher education that offer information assurance or computer security curriculum to assess their students’ depth of understanding and competency in managing the challenges that are inherent in network security. Students build a secure network and take preventative measures to protect it from professional hackers. The network that the students build is put under attack by a professional computer network penetration company.
“We learned a lot about security and about the security programs that are out there,” said team Captain Chris Sturgill.
“It taught us a lot about the real world of computer security, and about things that exist outside of our comfort zone,” student Karl Murray said.
Team members received a trophy and individual plaques for their win.
At the regional level, teams from six Midwestern states will compete. Winners from that level will be invited to participate in the first national Collegiate Cyber Defense Exercise hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio in April 2007.
