Cyber Defense Challenge made possible by Target
This unique program will provide hands-on experience giving WiCyS members a taste of what it’s like to be on a Cyber Defense Team.
Cyber Defense Challenge made possible by Target
Get ready for the third annual Target Cyber Defense Challenge! The challenge will give WiCyS members hands-on experience and a taste of what it’s like to be on a cyber defense team. From tackling intel-driven scenarios to experiencing current threats in the landscape, this challenge will offer many learning opportunities for members to hone their cybersecurity skills. In this year’s challenge, play both the threat actor and the defender during a high-stakes attack against a casino!
This engaging program is for WiCyS members to dive in, gain new learning experiences, network with an inclusive cohort of peers, work one-on-one with the Target cybersecurity team, and explore what incident response, threat detection, and threat intelligence are all about.
The top 10 participants will also receive a scholarship to attend the 2025 WiCyS Conference.
No previous cybersecurity experience is required to join this training since it’s a tiered, multi-staged learning opportunity.
Support
Kick-off meeting to launch each tier
Cohort to build professional network
Open office hours with Target team
Mid-tier check-ins
Cyber mentors from Target within Tier 2 cohort
Top 10 receive presentation coaching by Target team
Benefits
Learn how threat actors think
Leverage threat intelligence to write detection
Experience working within different roles on defense team
Learn about techniques leveraged by real threat actor groups
Work with the Target team
Top 10 will receive a WiCyS 2025 conference scholarship
Tiers:
Each participant will experience being part of the Cyber Defense team that is defending against current threats in the cyber landscape, as well as have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of threat actor tactics by also playing as the attacker. Tier 1 will bring members through the first stages of an intrusion into a casino’s network in capture-the-flag style challenges. In Tier 2, the top 50 from Tier 1 will combat a new threat actor group after the first sells off their access and learn how to catch the actors and recover from an attack. Finally, in Tier 3 the Tier 2 top 10 challengers will summarize and give a presentation to Target & WiCyS on what their biggest takeaways from this Cyber Defense Challenge were!
Please note: This is a fictional scenario created by the Target team for purposes of training for WiCyS members.
To view the program new release, visit HERE.
Overview Timeline:
May 14: Applications Open
May 14 at 1pm CT: Launch Webinar
June 14: Applications Close
July 18 at 7 pm CT: Tier 1 Kick-Off Webinar
August 15: Tier 1 Closes
August 22 at 7 pm CT: Tier 2 Kick-Off Webinar
September 12: Tier 2 Closes
October 1: Top 10 Presentation Support
TBD: Top 10 Presentations
Tier 1 timeline:
July 18 at 7 pm CT: Tier 1 Kick-Off Webinar (Zoom invites will be sent)
July 18: Tier 1 instructions sent and participants added to Slack cohort
Open Office Hours: Every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-4 pm (CT)
August 15: Tier 1 Closes
August 16: Notifications sent to Top 50 moving to Tier 2
Tier 2 timeline:
August 27 at 7 pm CT: Tier 2 Kick-Off Webinar (Zoom invites will be sent)
August 27: Tier 2 participants added to Slack cohort
Open Office Hours: Every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-4 pm (CT)
September 17: Tier 2 Closes
TBD: Notifications sent to the Top 10 moving to Tier 3
Tier 3 timeline:
October 1 : Top 10 Presentation Support
October 7: Top 10 Presentations to Target Team
Alex Perotti
“In cybersecurity not only did I find a new career, I also found an amazing community! Thanks to WiCyS and the Cyber Defense Challenge made possible by Target that was run in 2022, I discovered the deep passion in malware analysis and reverse engineering that pushed me to pursue it as a career path. Now, a little over a year after ending up in the top 10 of that challenge, I just started a new adventure after landing a role as a malware reverse engineer and CTI analyst for a Fortune 6 company.“
Krysten Stevens
“My philosophy has always been you will only know if you like something if you try it. Well-designed, well-executed challenges such as the Target Cyber Defense Challenge play a critical role in helping people find their niche in cybersecurity. The Challenge gave me a better idea of my strengths, what I enjoy, and what areas of cyber could be my own niche. It allowed me to experience several areas of cybersecurity: malware analysis, reverse engineering, and active defense, as well as connect with Target subject matter experts and other participants. The Target staff was fantastic and encouraging when I felt less confident in my abilities. Excellent experience; I’d love to do it again!”
Poornima Venkatesh
“Through this challenge I learned the importance of Cyber Defence and how a proactive approach involving Threat intelligence and Deep analysis would improve the security of systems and organizations. Providing an opportunity to investigate malware in a real world scenario, with experts from the team Target supporting the process was exceptional. Through its various stages, the competition has helped me to broaden my knowledge and improve my connections in the field of cyber security. Winning a WiCys scholarship is an honour and I am very honored to add this achievement to my professional portfolio.”
Isabel Malana
“This challenge has given me the opportunity to have hands-on experience on what it’s like to be a malware analyst/reverse engineer. It made me realize that this is what I want to work towards in my career pivot from AppDev into cybersecurity. Being part of this challenge has been a truly rewarding and wonderful experience! Thank you to WiCyS and Target for this amazing opportunity!”
Shannon Strum
“The Target Cyber Defense Challenge was an incredible experience that introduced me to many new tools and libraries. The Target Team provided an amazing and supportive environment that encouraged participants to experiment and learn new technologies.”
Robin Burkett
“My biggest takeaway from the WiCyS Cyber Defense Challenge made possible by Target was confidence that when faced with a challenge I don’t know how to do, I can conquer that challenge with hard work, persistence, and supportive mentors. As an avid CTF participant, I wish this were a model followed by more organizations. This is the most I learned in the shortest amount of time that was immediately relevant to cybersecurity than any CTF I have ever done. Succeeding in this challenge was a highlight of my year.”