How should Australia respond to a major cyberattack?

An international competition featuring fifteen student teams from 3 countries tasked with responding to a major cyberattack scenario will be held at the University of Sydney this week.

The Indo-Pacific Cyber 9/12 Student Challenge, the first event of its kind in the region, will see student teams compete to compose the best policy recommendations and justify their decision-making about the roles and responsibilities of military, civilian, and law enforcement agencies, as well as private industry in the event of a cyberattack.

The Challenge is a one-of-a-kind competition designed to provide students across different academic disciplines with a deeper understanding of the policy challenges associated with cyber crisis and conflict.

The event will also feature keynote addresses from cyberattack experts:

Dr Tobias Feakin: Australian Ambassador for Cyber Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 

Sandra Ragg: Assistant Secretary, Cyber Policy, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Chris Brookes: Assistant Secretary Cyber Security, Australian Signals Directorate

“There is a skills shortage in cyber security today, and it’s estimated that Australia will need 11,000 more people as this industry triples in size over the next decade,” said Dr Frank Smith from the University’s Centre for International Security Studies and Sydney Cyber Security Network.

“Our competition will help by encouraging students from a wide variety of different backgrounds to engage with this inherently interdisciplinary field.

“These students get to sit across the table with leaders in cyber security and explain how they would solve crisis and conflict in cyberspace.

“This is a remarkable opportunity, not only for students, but also for creating new policy ideas. Students have the unique opportunity to interact with expert mentors and senior professionals in cyber security while developing valuable skills in policy analysis and communication.”

The Indo-Pacific Cyber 9/12 Student Challenge is hosted in partnership with the Atlantic Council and the University of Sydney’s Centre for International Security Studies and Sydney Cyber Security Network.

The competition has already engaged over a thousand students in the United States United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. 2017 is the first year this event will be held in Australia.

This event is made possible with support from EY, Symantec, and the NSW Department of Industry. 

Event details:

What: Indo-Pacific Cyber Student 9/12 Challenge

When: September 28-29 2017

Where: Abercrombie Business School – University of Sydney