The Raytheon-sponsored 2016 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for 2016 will start Monday in an initiative to educate and develop both current talent and future generations of cybersecurity workers.
“Now more than ever before, the U.S. and countries around the world are connected by global information networks,” David Wajsgras, president of Raytheon’s intelligence, information and services unit, said in a release Thursday.
“The risk to nations’ networks are complex and is the driving force that propels Raytheon to take action to help build our cyber talent pipeline with this national competition.”
NCCDC is a competition that aims to simulate real-world commercial business environments and challenges participants to combat live cyber attacks and at the same time manage information technology operations.
At least 180 collegiate teams will compete in 10 regional competitions from March 4 to April 7 to determine the participants that will compete at the national championship in San Antonio, Texas between April 22 and 24.
University of Central Florida won the last two competitions and were offered scholarships and a tour on a number of national cyber security sites such as the Department of Homeland Security and National Cryptologic Museum at the National Security Agency.