CyberForce Fest Showcases Ingenuity of New Cyber Generation

by Cole Smith

On November 8, 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Department of Energy’s (DOE) 10^th Annual CyberForce Competition®, an event that showcases the ingenuity and dedication of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Held in a ballroom in St. Charles, Illinois, buzzing with the energy of around 100 five-person teams, the competition brought together undergraduates, graduate students and an impressive cadre of volunteers—all passionate about tackling the complex cybersecurity challenges associated with the future of the electric grid. It was a dynamic and inspiring environment, filled with collaborative problem-solving, innovative strategies and a shared commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure. 

The CyberForce Competition is part of DOE’s CyberForce Program, a workforce development program developed in 2016 to attract young people to join the cybersecurity field and expose them to the threats to our country’s infrastructure posed by cyberattacks. Besides the CyberForce Competition, the program features the Conquer the Hill Competition Series, virtual competitions under the National Institute for Standards and Technology National Initiative for Cyber Education (NIST NICE) Framework. The program also offers collegiate and professional career fairs and webinars. 

The Office of Electricity (OE) plays a crucial role in supporting the CyberForce Competition by providing funding to Idaho National Lab (INL) for its red team activities. This funding enables INL’s experts to design realistic attack scenarios, simulate adversarial tactics and challenge participants to defend critical infrastructure systems effectively.  

The CyberForce Competition combines technical expertise from national labs with immersive scenarios to provide participants with hands-on experience in cybersecurity, The competition challenges students to defend critical energy infrastructure in realistic scenarios that simulate cyber-physical environments, including virtual devices and life-like constraints such as limited budgets and operational challenges. Teams must balance securing systems against potential threats while ensuring usability for end users, reflecting real-world conditions. Participants are scored on their innovative defense strategies, ability to maintain system functionality and responsiveness to user needs, providing a unique and comprehensive educational experience. 

One of the many highlights was the chance to observe the red team—the attackers—in action. Having participated in this competition myself in 2021, it was fascinating to see how this year’s 

 teams responded to the relentless barrage of challenges thrown their way. The ingenuity and adaptability on display were truly impressive, as students worked under pressure to protect their systems while balancing realistic scenarios and evolving threats. It was a vivid reminder of the importance of hands-on, high-stakes training in preparing the workforce for real-world cybersecurity demands. 

I also enjoyed hearing from lab personnel who have been involved with CyberForce since its inception, reflecting on how the competition has grown and evolved over the past decade. Their insights underscored how impactful this event has been in fostering talent and innovation within the cybersecurity community. I’m already looking forward to returning for future competitions and working with the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) and our national labs to make this event even bigger and better. The CyberForce Competition is not just a showcase of skill but a testament to the power of collaboration and the bright future of cybersecurity.  

And speaking of bright futures, congratulations to the first-place winners, University of Central Florida on their FOURPEAT (for a total of six overall) 1^st place finish! Their continued dominance speaks to the level of talent and commitment this competition inspires.  

For more information on the competition, click here.