Communications of the ACM
Hackathon to Identify Cyber Security Talent of the Future
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A 24-hour hackathon will mark the start of a new partnership between the University of Warwick's Cyber Security Centre and Callsign Inc., a digital identification company. The partners will work on the future security of digital identities.
The two will work together to develop and support cyber security talent. This supports the U.K. government's own strategy for cyber security and is an area of concentration for Professor Tim Watson and Professor Carsten Maple, both with the Cyber Security Centre. Both sit on national bodies in the cyber security field and are key influencers in cyber security policy.
"The advent of the Internet of Things challenges businesses and individuals alike to assert their identities far better," says Zia Hayat, CEO and founder of Callsign. "They have to have a much clearer understanding of just how trustworthy their digital identities are, particularly as businesses face increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks and individuals risk identity theft. The challenge is how cyber security specialists build solutions to these threats. Our work with WMG's Cyber Security Centre will identify and nurture new cyber security talent to combat cybercrime. It is vital that the U.K. has the people and skills to tackle this issue."
Maple, director of research at the Cyber Security Centre, says, "In today's digital world the need to securely identify yourself has become a constant fact of life, whether you have to swipe a card to enter a building, or getting concert tickets or boarding passes delivered straight to your phone. Each day brings new ways of digitally enhancing everyday aspects of our lives and we fully expect that this competition will see Warwick students create some of those new ideas. Our partnership with Callsign is an exciting and important step in identifying new cyber security talent."
The 24-hour hackathon is open to undergraduates at the University of Warwick. They will be challenged with finding new ways to interact with the Internet of Things and will be given access to Callsign's mobile app with the aim of improving the security and convenience of identity based transactions and activities.
Judges from Morgan Stanley, Cisco, Deutsche Bank, Jaguar Land Rover, and other organizations will watch how the teams respond to a time-limited challenge to create new ways to ease or enhance everyday tasks. Ideas could enable the app to help sign, receive, or submit documents, remotely control a garage door or even allow access to a car.
The hackathon will run from 10 a.m. Saturday June 20 to 10 a.m. Sunday June 21 in the Cyber Security Centre at the University of Warwick. A prize of £2,500 (U.S. $3,888), with a maximum team prize of £500 (U.S. $777) per individual on teams of 4-5 members, will be awarded. Each runner up will receive a £100 (U.S. $155) Amazon voucher. Goodie bags and food will be provided for all those taking part.
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