Keeping Out the Hackers

Scenario:  You have just been hired as the network/security administrator taking control of all information systems, which you know little about and have limited time to familiarize yourself. In the midst of all the commotion, you have to keep up with the needs of the business and user demands while maintaining service level agreements for all critical Internet services.

This was day one of the 2013 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC), attended by students of Millersville University’s Cyber Security Team. The competition was held from April 19-21 in San Antonio, Texas.

Rochester Institute of Technology took home the 2013 National CCDC Championship, while Millersville University’s Cyber Security Team is the 2013 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition Champion.

“Throughout the competition, the teams have to ensure that systems supply the specified services while under attack from the ‘Red Team’ (hackers),” said Todd Echertling, Millersville’s Cyber Security Team coach. “In addition, the teams have to satisfy periodic ‘injects’ that simulate business activities that information technology staff must deal with in the real world.”

Although the Millersville University students did not place at this year’s national competition, the students worked very hard to prepare. “The field is growing so rapidly, it is difficult, no matter how well you prepare for the competition; the professional hackers (red team) will still get into our networks,” said Travis Romero, team captain and senior computer science major.

The other computer science students on the team include: seniors, Andrew Elliot, Martin Zirkle, Josh Van Hine and Grant Blankenship; juniors, Dylan Leakway, Keat Ly and Ryan Butler and sophomore, Mark Schmele.