Looking for something to do in the dog days of Summer? Practice your cyber defense skills for the Maryland Cyber Challenge

If the heat and humidity are keeping you indoors this summer, why not take advantage of it by testing your skills in a cyber defense computer game? This is computer gaming with a twist, however -- instead of playing just for fun, teams will be playing to win scholarships and prizes in the inaugural Maryland Cyber Challenge & Conference (MDC3) to be held October 21-22 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Registration is now open for high school students, college students and cybersecurity professionals who wish to compete for scholarships and prizes in this inaugural event Teams of up to six players will compete in one of three divisions: high school, college or university, and professional. The competition is open to any student enrolled in a Maryland high school, college or university, or any professional employed by a company or government agency with an office in Maryland.

Potential competitors only need a basic knowledge of Windows and LINUX to participate. Once teams register, they will be able to participate in free practice sessions to prepare for the MDC3 qualifying rounds to be held in September. Teams that register by August 8, 2011 will be invited to participate in a practice round on August 10^th, and the final practice round will be held August 24^th. Competitors just need a computer and access to the internet to practice. Full competition details and registration information are available on both the MDC3 website (www.MDC3.org) and Facebook page (search “Maryland Cyber Challenge”).

By participating in MDC3, competitors will have the opportunity to learn and develop skills and techniques needed to protect vital information systems while participating in a fun, competitive, team-based activity. Throughout the challenge, high school teams will practice basic cyber defense techniques, while university and professional teams will use more advanced forensic techniques and employ both offensive and defensive strategies in a head-to-head “capture the flag” challenge.

Beginning in September, two qualifying rounds will be held online using SAIC’s Cyber Network Exercise System (CyberNEXS), a scalable training, exercise and certification system. The second qualifying round will determine the final teams from each division that will go on to compete against each other in person at the October conference. Winners of each division will receive their trophies and awards at a formal ceremony to be held at UMBC in November.

About the Maryland Cyber Challenge & Conference (MDC3)

The inaugural Maryland Cyber Challenge & Conference (MDC3) will be held October 21-22 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The event will give teams of high school students, college and university students, and professionals the opportunity to learn about cybersecurity and develop practical skills for defending computers while competing for scholarships and prizes in a fun environment. The conference will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions and vendor booths for an audience of students, parents and professionals from academia, industry and government. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are both available. MDC3 was created by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) [NYSE: SAI] and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in partnership with the Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED), the Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) with the goal of encouraging Maryland students and young professionals to pursue education and careers in cybersecurity. MDC3 supports the State of Maryland’s initiative to become the nation’s epicenter for innovation in cybersecurity. For more information, please visit www.MDC3.org.

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