Introduction to the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot Competition

1. Introduction to theAir Force Association’s CyberPatriot Competition For Teachers and Administrators

2. What is CyberPatriot? • A nation-wide computer network defense competition for high school students • All schools are eligible: • Public • Private • Charter • Parochial • Home • Overseas military • Two “Divisions” • “All Service” for Junior ROTC and Civil Air Patrol cadets • “Open” for all other students and mixed (cadet + non-cadet) teams • Up to 1,250 teams in each Division

3. What Is CyberPatriot? (Click image to start video)

4. What CyberPatriot is NOT • A hacking contest • A recruiting program of the federal government or the military • A flash in the pan • 2011/2012 is CyberPatriot’s fourth year

5. Why Do We Need CyberPatriot? • We are an “internet nation” • Government networks probed or attacked thousands of times every day • Commercial networks face similar attacks • Banking/financial industries, power grids, natural gas & petroleum distribution, and many more depend on computer networks • “Anonymous” hacker-activists shut down Visa and MasterCard sites • “Stuxnet” virus crippled Iranian nuclear industry • Could it be used against friendly countries?

6. Why Do We Need CyberPatriot? • American universities not producing enough computer-security graduates • The need will only grow in the future • Among 15-year-olds, America ranks • 17th in science performance • 25th in math performance • Out of 34 industrialized countries • We need to excite high school students about these subject areas • And all science, technology, engineering, and math fields

7. CyberPatriot Teams • Teams consist of a “coach,” 2-10 students, and one or more “mentors” • The Coach • Must be a school employee but not necessarily a teacher • Does not have to be a computer security expert • Main jobs are: • Provide adult supervision to the team • Be the liaison between the school and CyberPatriot • Manage administrative details

8. CyberPatriot Teams • The team • 2-10 students • Up to 5 compete in each round • Others are alternates • Grades 9 to 12 • Minimum age is 13 • Girls encouraged! • Coach, alternate(s), & mentor(s) may observe but MAY NOT be actively involved during actual competition rounds

9. CyberPatriot Teams • The Mentor • Team may have none, one, or many • May come from inside or outside the school system • Are the subject matter experts on security aspects of the Windows and Linux operating systems • Your local AFA chapter is recruiting mentors now! • You may, too • Lesson learned: mentors are vital for team success

10. CyberPatriot Timeline • Team registration • Opened April 1st, 2011 • Will close in early October • Teams can begin studying right away • Practice rounds begin in August • Competition rounds: • All Service Division • Round 1: Oct 29 & 30 • Round 2: Dec 3 & 4 • Round 3: Jan 14 & 15 • Finals: March 22-24 • Open Division • Round 1: Nov 5 & 6 • Round 2: Dec 17 & 18 • Round 3: Jan 28 & 29 • Finals: March 22-24

11. How Do CyberPatriot Teams Compete? • First 3 rounds • Team downloads a password-protected file containing a simulated network into a secure space inside their computer(s) • Network contains: • One or more simulated file server and workstation computers running Windows or Linux operating systems • Each simulated computer has faults (viruses, trapdoors, key loggers, etc.) already installed • Network & problems identical for all teams • Networks get larger and more complex in each round

12. How Do CyberPatriot Teams Compete? • Team has 6 hours to find and fix as many problems as they can • Progress monitored in real time • “% complete” feedback provided • Final scores released the following week • All teams compete in rounds 1 & 2 • Up to 1,250 start round 1 in each Division • Only top 25% or so move on to round 3 • Only 10 from each Division go to the semi-finals

13. How Do CyberPatriot Teams Compete? • Finals • 12 teams from each Division compete • In All Service Division, 2 each from Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps JROTC and Civil Air Patrol, plus the next 2 highest-scoring teams • In the Open Division, the top 12 teams from round 3 • In-person competition • In Washington, DC, during AFA CyberFutures Conference • ALL TRAVEL, LODGING & MEAL EXPENSES PAID! • Champions crowned in each Division • 2nd & 3rd place teams also named • Scholarships awarded to top 3 teams

14. What Does CyberPatriot Teach Students? • Teamwork • Interpersonal & communication skills • Leadership & followership • Mutual respect & support • Problem solving • Attention to detail • Creative thinking • Perseverance • How to work under time pressure

15. How Else Can We Benefit? • Community support • Support from local businesses, colleges, and organizations can be life-changing experiences • Internship/summer-hire opportunities • Students (and possibly coaches) have chance to get intern or summer-hire jobs • Computer donations • Supporting businesses may donate computers that are more up-to-date than those your school has

16. What Do We Need to Participate? • Registration fee • Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps JROTC & CAP: free! • Army JROTC & Open Division teams: $350 • Considerably less than many other programs • Team receives software licenses, t-shirts, commemorative coins, and more worth ~$2,000 • Your local AFA chapter may be able to help • Due when you have a coach and team and are ready to commit to competing

17. What Do We Need to Participate? • Hardware • Computers with: • Windows 2000 or newer or Macintosh 10.4.11 or later • 1 GHz or better Intel CPU chip or Apple equivalent • At least 20 GB free hard disk space • At least 2 GB RAM • Network interface card and appropriate modem for broadband internet access (cable or DSL) • AT&T providing “air phone” cards for schools without broadband access • Video projectors connected to computers recommended but not required

18. How Do We Sign Up? • Go to http://www.uscyberpatriot.org • Registration will be open until early October or all available slots in your Division are filled

19. Questions?