WorldSkills Australia programs Cyber Security into its next competition

On Computer Security Day this Saturday, November 30, 2019, we are launching the first-ever WorldSkills Australia Cyber Security Competition. This 6-hour event was created in collaboration with cyber security experts Ixia, a Keysight business.

Cyber Security was a new skill at the WorldSkills International Championships this year in Kazan, Russia, and Ixia were the brains behind the independent test project for the event. The intention behind the regional competition is to create state and territory teams for WorldSkills Australia’s National Championships with a view to select a team to potentially progress to the WorldSkills International Championships in 2021, hosted in Shanghai.

The virtual event runs on November 30 will pit teams of two people against each other – a red player (the ATTACKER) and a blue player (the DEFENDER) – to explore a unique online environment. Knowing both the Attack and Defence methods and getting into that mindset will ultimately prepare the young people competing for the real world – there are a lot of variables and unknowns, and they’ll need to protect their network and assets against any and all cyber security threats.

Participants will get the opportunity to understand, learn and analyse the different kinds of Attack and Defence techniques by assuming the role of each player. The goal is to find flags based on their difficulty levels and earn points.

Up to 22 teams from 8 States and Territories including ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, QLD VIC and WA will compete around Australia.

The results of the competition will decide which teams will progress to our National competition, to be held in Perth in August 2020.