Now, the Cyber Warriors are trying to become a force in another area of cyber competitionβpenetration testing. Over the years, the Cyber Warriors developed into a powerhouse by performing well in competitions where defending a computer network from outside attacks is the objective.
In penetration testing competitions, participating teams go on the offensive. They conduct real-world penetration testing engagements to find, exploit and suggest remediations for security vulnerabilities.
This is similar to those performed by companies, professional services firms and internal security departments around the world preemptively hiring these professionals to break into their systems to know what vulnerabilities a real attacker might attempt to exploit.
During these competitions, volunteers and sponsors develop an immersive mock organization that is seeking penetration testing services. Competitors play the role of a consulting firm that provide the testing services to the organization.
Competitors must provide deliverables, presentations to company management and recommendations about the vulnerabilities discovered during the test. Teams are scored not just on the technical vulnerabilities discovered, but also on their professionalism and communication skills. This year, we knew what to expect and were better prepared to compete at the highest level.
