SAIC and UMBC Launch Inaugural Cyber Challenge and Conference

  • Feb 08, 2011
Science Applications International Corporation and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) announced plans for a statewide cyber-competition and conference designed to attract more students and young professionals to pursue careers in cybersecurity. The Maryland Cyber Challenge and Conference (MDC3), to be held Oct. 21-22, will strengthen Maryland's position as a cybersecurity leader by bringing teams of current and prospective cybersecurity professionals together to develop the skills and techniques needed to protect vital information systems.

Founders of the event include SAIC, UMBC, the National Cyber Security Alliance, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, and the Tech Council of Maryland.

"I am so proud to join in celebrating the first-ever Maryland Cyber Challenge and Conference," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. "Our state is poised to lead the way in cybersecurity. From our world-class facilities, federal agencies and military commands that are engaged in cybersecurity work to our vibrant and growing private sector and talented universities, we are uniquely positioned to lead the way to protect and defend the nation's digital infrastructure. I'd like to thank SAIC and UMBC for recognizing the importance of preparing the next generation for the jobs of the future."

Orientation sessions for teams in each of three divisions — high school, collegiate and industry, and government professionals — will be held at UMBC in March and April. Two qualifying rounds will be conducted online using SAIC's Cyber Network Exercise System (CyberNEXS), a scalable training, exercise and certification system.

"SAIC is thrilled to be a co-founder of the inaugural MDC3," said Larry Cox, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager. "This is an opportunity to attract students and young professionals to cyber-oriented degree programs and careers, expanding Maryland's reach as a leader in cybersecurity innovation."

The final rounds of the challenge will be held at the conference as part of Maryland's activities to recognize National Cyber Security Awareness Month. High school teams will compete in a cyber defense challenge, while collegiate and professional teams will go head-to-head in a "capture the flag" scenario. Winners of each division will receive their trophies and awards at a formal ceremony at UMBC.

"Maryland colleges and universities have a critical role to play in preparing students for careers in cybersecurity and related fields," said UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. "This event will support those efforts by encouraging the development of valuable cybersecurity skills in a competitive setting."

The October cyber conference will feature exhibitor booths, keynote speeches, and workshops conducted by nationally recognized industry leaders. 

"NCSA is proud to be a co-founder of this event," said Michael Kaiser, NCSA executive director. "The nation is in need of a new generation of cybersecurity professionals. This challenge is an excellent way to inspire young people to pursue careers, and perhaps ignite a new passion, for protecting our valuable digital assets."

During MDC3, students and young professionals will have an opportunity to network with cybersecurity leaders while learning about careers in cybertechnology. The conference agenda will be oriented toward students, parents, and professionals from academia, industry and government.

"DBED is pleased to team with SAIC and UMBC to prepare today's students for tomorrow's jobs," said Maryland Secretary of Business and Economic Development Christian S. Johansson, adding, "We launched CyberMaryland last year to position our state as the epicenter for cybersecurity and this effort demonstrates that everything cyber happens right here in Maryland."

"For more than a year, the Tech Council of Maryland has been engaged with the cybersecurity industry, our members and our partners in Maryland to produce a series of events and conversations through the CyberMaryland Forum," said Renee M. Winsky, TCM CEO. "Working with SAIC and others on MDC3 only furthers the breadth and opportunity for Maryland's bourgeoning cybersecurity industry."


Featured

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.