UVU cybersecurity team takes first place in collegiate cyber defense competition

University Marketing & Communications: Scott Trotter | 801-863-6807 | [email protected]

On Saturday, Nov. 11, one of two teams from the UVU Cybersecurity Club took first place in the National Information Assurance Training and Education Center (NIATEC) Invitational Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. NIATEC is one of the premier cybersecurity centers in the world. This competition showcases the cyber defense skills of 15 of the best cybersecurity teams in the region.

The teams spend nine hours as network defenders and administrators. In addition to fending off a team of skilled attackers, they are also tasked with maintaining business operations and dealing with requests from management. This was UVU’s first time entering this competition. The winning team included UVU students:  Austin Larsen, Mike Weaver, Daniel Dayley, and Chris Hallstrom.  The other UVU team included: Charlie Espaillat, William Yocom, Kimberly Yefimov, and Jamis Harley.

“This is an important step in the growth of the cybersecurity program at UVU. Students participating in this sort of competition are often aggressively recruited by both private enterprises and the public sector,” stated Robert Jorgensen, assistant professor of cybersecurity.

Their next major event will be the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in the spring. This is an event qualifier to participate in the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, one of the most prestigious cybersecurity competitions in the world.

About Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University is home to more than 35,000 students. UVU began as a vocational school during World War II, and in the seven decades since has evolved into a technical school, community college, state college, and, finally, a comprehensive regional teaching university. UVU is one of Utah’s largest institutions of higher learning and offers programs ranging from career training to high-demand master degrees.

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