The First National TAFE vs TAFE Cyber Challenge
Demonstrating TAFE cyber training capabilities on a massive scale!
On 26 May 2021 TAFEcyber hosted the national TAFE vs TAFE Cyber Challenge, giving students and staff across the Australia the opportunity to flex their cyber security skills.
Using on campus state-of-the-art Training in Cyber Security Operation Centers (TCSOCs) and IT facilities each college entered one team to participate in the national interconnectivity challenge.
As part of the TAFEcyber project backed by AustCyber, the challenge played a crucial role in completing a major project milestone and successfully interconnecting colleges across Australia for the first time in history.
The national challenge provided a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase crucial and in demand cyber skills gained through specialised training at TAFE.
With the full support of their college, the teams used their cyber skills to configure Splunk dashboards, capture a range of flags (CTF) hidden in multiple networks and crack passwords! During the competition participating teams also actively attacked, defended and repaired networks against the other teams.
The challenge was a great way to showcase to industry the capability of TAFEs, who deliver critical cyber skill training for the growing sector.
“The cyber challenge was a great way for TAFE nationwide to show the capability of VET education and what can be achieved when a group of colleges work collaboratively to create amazing education outcomes for students.” Denis Coldham, Head of Programs IT
The participating colleges include South Metropolitan TAFE, North Metropolitan TAFE, TAFE Queensland, Canberra Institute of Technology, TAFE South Australia, Chisholm Institute, Victoria University Polytechnic and Box Hill Institute. As the challenge took place it was an extremely tight race for the teams to complete the cyber activities, ultimately TAFE South Australia (A team of four lecturers) took the win in the remaining last minutes.
"The TAFEcyber National Cyber Challenge was my first CTF, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but it was so much fun. Working as a team with my classmates, helping each other complete challenges and having our lectures cheering us on made my first CTF an awesome experience. I will definitely be competing again!” Karen Hobson, Advanced Diploma of Cyber Security student
The participating colleges include South Metropolitan TAFE, North Metropolitan TAFE, TAFE Queensland, Canberra Institute of Technology, TAFE South Australia, Chisholm Institute, Victoria University Polytechnic and Box Hill Institute.
Published on 22 June 2021
