'Kentish Cyber' reaches final of the UK Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge

A team of Kent students has recently been selected for the finals of the 4th Annual UK Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. This is the first time that the University and Kent's new Institute for Advanced Studies in Cyber Security and Conflict (SoCyETAL) will be represented at the competition.

The team of 4, coached by Dr Gareth Mott, is comprised of Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from the School of Computing, Kent Law School and the School of Politics and International Relations.

The Kentish Cyber Team are:

Keenan Jones, School of Computing
Nandita Pattnaik, School of Computing
Ben Treacy, School of Politics & International Relations
Hala Zein, Kent Law School

Dr Gareth Mott, School of Politics & International Relations (Coach)

In this strategy challenge, competitors will take on the role of senior advisors to government and industry, in facing a complex escalating cyber-attack. They will use their varied technical and non-technical expertise from different disciplines to assess the unfolding threat, before briefing a panel of senior UK and international cyber leaders on potential mitigation strategies.

Dr Gareth Mott said: "We are elated and proud that Kentish Cyber have made it through to the final of the UK Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. We hope that our students make the most of this fantastic interactive learning experience and 'real-life' scenario-based challenge. This is a great opportunity for our team to gain first-hand experience with the critical challenge of ensuring cyber-security in an increasingly interconnected world. Our staff and students are delighted to be a part of this endeavour for the first time of hopefully many. Kentish Cyber will embrace the chance to showcase the strength and breadth of 'big tent' interdisciplinary teaching and research in cyber security at the University of Kent".

The virtual event, hosted by the Atlantic Council UK, will take place on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 February 2021. Further details are available on the UK Cyber 9/12 website, here:
https://www.cyber912uk.org/en/

Best of luck to Kentish Cyber!