In today’s tech-driven world, cybersecurity is more important than ever. However, there aren’t enough experts to keep up with the demand. To inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) hosts the CyberTitan competition for middle and high school students across Canada. This year, the CyberGuardians, a team of six Grade 6 students from Guardian Angels School, were the only team from the Ottawa area to make it to the national finals.
Under the guidance of Vice-Principal Krista Sarginson, teacher Jackie McGrath, and community helper Marc Seguin, the CyberGuardians form a part of the school’s cybersecurity club. The club meets twice a week during lunchtime to hone cybersecurity skills. The students have been trained in using operating systems such as Linux and Windows, testing device connectivity, and performing system administrator tasks. These sessions have prepared them for various competitions held between November and January. The highest-scoring teams from these events have qualified for the national finals.
What is a Cybersecurity Competition?
In cybersecurity competitions, teams use hands-on simulation environments to defend different operating systems from cyberattacks, such as malware, viruses, and ransomware. Each competition lasts four hours. Students must find and fix vulnerabilities, figure out how the attacks happened, and make changes to prevent them from occurring in the future.
A Team Effort
Cybersecurity is all about teamwork. It’s like solving a big puzzle together. Students must communicate, collaborate, and think critically to succeed.
On May 8, the CyberGuardians competed in the final round at Field Effect, an Ottawa cybersecurity company. They were among the youngest teams there and competed against teams from New Brunswick, where cybersecurity is part of the school curriculum. Despite being the underdogs, the CyberGuardians performed excellently, even placing ahead of two high school teams. They were proud of their achievement and especially of how they worked together. One student said, “The best part was how we bonded as a team!”
