ETSU’s Cyber Bucs Excel in MITRE's Embedded Security Competition
ETSU’s Cybersecurity Team, the Cyber Bucs, made an impressive debut in MITRE's annual Embedded Capture the Flag (eCTF) competition, securing 17th place out of 95 teams from institutions across nine countries. The competition, which concluded last week with an awards ceremony at the JFK Presidential Library in Boston, showcased the skills and expertise of teams in securing critical embedded systems.
The eCTF competition, hosted by MITRE Engenuity, focuses on securing critical systems that utilize embedded hardware, presenting unique and complex security challenges. Unlike traditional Capture the Flag, students in this competition design and implement systems meeting specific security and functionality requirements.
In this year's competition, teams were tasked with developing supply chain security solutions for microcontrollers on medical devices, ensuring device integrity while safeguarding sensitive data. ETSU's Cyber Bucs, led by Captain Scott Chandler, along with team members Adam Hooven, Reid Bandy, Justin Dubin, and Anthony Vandergriff, demonstrated exceptional skills in both offensive and defensive strategies.
Dr. Biju Bajracharya, advisor to the team, highlighted the importance of such competitions in preparing students for real-world scenarios. "Participating in such hands-on, real-world scenarios is crucial for developing a skilled cybersecurity and STEM workforce capable of addressing evolving cyber threats," said Dr. Bajracharya.
MITRE's eCTF competition is renowned for its realistic scenarios and the opportunity it provides for students to build cybersecurity skills. This year's competition drew a record-breaking 773 students, demonstrating its growing popularity and impact on cybersecurity education.
The success of the Cyber Bucs team in MITRE's eCTF competition highlights the College of Business and Technology and the Department of Computing’s commitment to providing students with hands-on learning experiences and preparing them for successful careers in cybersecurity.
Congratulations to the Cyber Bucs on their hard work and amazing accomplishments!