Faced with an extreme shortage of workers who can protect our network infrastructure, Cal Poly Pomona has announced that it will offer free intensive training to 35 people with a special talent in cybersecurity.

These individuals will attend the 2nd Annual California Cyber Challenge Camp July 11-15 at Cal Poly Pomona. Participants will learn at the camp how to detect unwanted network intrusions and get firsthand experience evaluating network security through simulated attacks, among other topics. The event culminates in a “capture the flag” competition on July 15 in which campers will use their newly acquired knowledge to battle live attacks from people posing as hackers. The winning team from the competition will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the nonprofit, International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, Inc., also known as (ISC)2. Other activities in the camp include a career and internship fair and an ethics panel discussion.

The camp is created and organized by U.S. Cyber Challenge (USCC), a national public-private partnership focused on encouraging people to pursue careers in cybersecurity. Participants from California, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada were invited to the Cal Poly Pomona camp based on scores and performance in other USCC competitions such as Cyber Quest and Cyber Patriot.

“We have a tremendous need for cyber security professionals with current skills and hands-on experience,” says Computer Information Systems Professor Dan Manson who is organizing the camp.  “We need to do a better job at identifying these individuals and providing accessible training and instructors for them."

Cal Poly Pomona is one of only five institutions in the country that will host a USCC Cyber Camp this year. Other camps will be offered in Maryland, Missouri, Virginia and Delaware.

“Cal Poly Pomona is once again stepping forward and making a commitment to educating a skilled cyber security workforce,” said Karen S. Evans, USCC National Director.  “We are pleased to partner with Professor Manson and his team who have done an incredible job in raising awareness, encouraging participation, and coordinating this year’s cyber camp.” 

With recent organized attacks against corporations such as Sony and Viacom and government agencies that include CIA and U.S. Senate, there is an urgent need for a skilled workforce that can stay one step ahead of hackers and prevent sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands.

“We need more people who can prevent intrusions,” says camp participant Saul Medrano. “I’m really a patriot of this country and I want to be one of the good guys who protects it.”

The people invited to the camp have varying levels of experience. Some are Cal Poly Pomona students who compete in cyber defense competitions and have advance knowledge of cybersecurity, some are completely self-taught while others are currently working in information technology and looking to advance their skills. However, all participants agree that cybersecurity is an ever-changing landscape and there can never be enough training or education on this topic.

The national sponsors for the U.S.C.C cyber camps are i2, Juniper Networks, SE Solutions and SecureInfo. The Association for Federal Information Resources Management, the Center for Internet Security and the SANS Institute are providing national scholarship and educational support. Additionally, the Regional Information Systems Security Center based at Mt. Sac serves as a local sponsor.