Get ready for Cybersecurity Career Week events
Cybersecurity Career Week is Oct. 14-19.
As Cybersecurity Career Week approaches, the Virginia Cyber Range in Virginia Tech’s Division of Information Technology is gearing up for a week of exciting, career-focused events from Oct. 14-19.
Coordinated by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, Cybersecurity Career Week seeks to engage and inspire future cybersecurity professionals with a series of interactive activities designed for students, educators, and industry practitioners.
"Cybersecurity Career Week provides a unique platform for participants to explore the field, build valuable skills, and discover career paths in cybersecurity," said David Raymond, director of the Virginia and U.S. Cyber Range of Virginia Tech. "We are excited to offer experiences that will provide engaging learning opportunities and expert guidance to inspire and mentor future cybersecurity professionals."
Online capture the flag lets anyone play
A highlight of the week’s events is the Virginia Cyber Range’s Jeopardy-style capture the flag competition, which will feature challenges aligned with the categories from the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. Whether you’re a beginner exploring cybersecurity for the first time or an experienced capture the flag player, this competition has something for everyone. Participants will navigate a wide range of challenges that test problem-solving skills, teamwork, and cybersecurity knowledge.
The competition will include introductory challenges to help new players get involved and gain confidence. More advanced competitors will find plenty of opportunities to push their skills to the next level. The event promises to be fun and rewarding, with prizes awarded to the top scorers.
In addition to the competition, the Virginia Cyber Range will offer a free online capture the flag workshop to help participants sharpen their skills ahead of the event. The workshop is open to all participants, providing expert guidance on how to approach capture the flag challenges and succeed in the competition.
New podcast dives deeper
Complementing the hands-on experience, the U.S. Cyber Range will debut its new podcast, "NextGen Cyber: The Future of Cybersecurity," in October. The podcast will explore cutting-edge trends, emerging technologies, and the future of cybersecurity careers, featuring thought leaders, researchers, and educators from across the field.
"Companies today are looking for cybersecurity graduates who not only have technical expertise, but also the problem-solving skills and adaptability to keep up with an ever-evolving threat landscape," said Pat McShea, program manager with CACI International Inc. and guest on the "NextGen Cyber" podcast. "I'm excited to be part of this important conversation about the future of cybersecurity careers."
About the U.S. Cyber Range
The U.S. Cyber Range, developed from the Virginia Cyber Range, is part of Virginia Tech’s outreach efforts and aims to enhance cybersecurity education and workforce development across the country. While the Virginia Cyber Range focuses on enhancing cybersecurity education within the commonwealth, the U.S. Cyber Range offers the same state-of-the-art training platform on a national scale. It provides educators, students, and professionals with secure, cloud-based environments to develop hands-on skills through exercises, labs, and competitions, including capture the flag events. Both ranges are at the forefront of shaping the future of cybersecurity education.
For more information on how to take part in Cybersecurity Career Week activities or the Capture the Flag competition, visit the Virginia Cyber Range website.
