Registrations on the up for youth cyber security competition

6th November 2017

Alice Matthews

0 0

Global security company, Northrop Grumman, has launched this year’s CyberCenturion, the UK’s national youth cyber defence competition for 12-18 year olds. A record 575 teams, made up of more 2,500 students, including 116 all-female and 45 cadet teams from across the country have registered to participate, marking a more than threefold increase over last year. This is the fourth consecutive year the CyberCenturion competition has been held.

CyberCenturion is the UK version of the proven CyberPatriot competition, part of a major US national youth cyber education programme presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and created by the Air Force Association. It is a key element of the company’s commitment to promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and is aimed at engaging students with an interest in cyber to encourage them to pursue academic and career opportunities in STEM to help close the skills gap.

The competition is played over three rounds with the formal kickoff beginning 3rd November at the Air Force Association headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The two rounds following take place 8th December and 19th January and culminate in the National Finals held in London, 8th March 2018.

“This year we have seen truly amazing growth in the number and diversity of teams that have entered the competition showing the increasing interest that young people have in cyber security,” said Andrew Tyler, Chief Executive, Northrop Grumman Europe. “CyberCenturion is an important and popular means of inspiring young people to take further studies and follow careers in cyber.”

CyberCenturion is delivered in partnership with Cyber Security Challenge UK, a nationwide programme focused on bringing more talented people into the cyber security profession and building a bigger UK cyber talent pool for government, businesses and citizens.

“Building tomorrow’s cyber workforce is a global imperative and we are thrilled to be spearheading this effort,” said Diane Miller, Director, global cyber education and workforce development programmes, Northrop Grumman.