Improving USF's competitiveness in the broad field of cybersecurity one competition at a time.
USF’s CyberHerd was formed by the College of Engineering's Department of Computer Science & Engineering. The team achieved 2nd and 3rd place at the 2024 Aviation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (A-ISAC) Cybersecurity Summit, held in New Orleans from September 17-19. Our team competed against a range of other universities including Tulane, Louisiana State University (LSU), and the University of Central Florida (UCF). Despite that was the team’s first time entering the competition, they proved their skills by securing top spots.
Real-World Challenges, Real-World Success
A-ISAC is an aviation-centric cybersecurity competition, challenging participants to solve real-world problems. The competition provided USF students with valuable real-world experience, preparing them to handle the kind of cybersecurity threats they will face in their careers.
The competition included eight teams from six universities. USF’s CyberHerd performed impressively, even leading the scoreboard at times, and coming close to surpassing the first-place winner.
“Our first team was ahead at times,” Assistant Professor Marbin Pazos Revilla shared. “We’re getting closer and closer to a first-place win, and I’m confident it’s just around the corner.”
USF CyberHerd: Rising Fast
CyberHerd was established in Fall with funding from Cyber Florida (Florida Center for Cybersecurity). The team’s purpose is to increase USF’s competitiveness in cybersecurity competitions and enhance the university’s visibility in the field.
Since its formation, CyberHerd has been on a winning streak. In 2024, they secured first place at the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE) Cyber Games Southeast Regional, and in 2023, they placed 5th out of 103 teams at the Department of Energy CyberForce Competition.
Aiming for the Top
CyberHerd’s success at A-ISAC is just the latest milestone in their journey. With ongoing support from Cyber Florida and USF, the team is well-positioned to continue achieving great things in national and international competitions.
USF’s commitment to cybersecurity education and training is paying off, and the CyberHerd team’s upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing. With more competitions ahead, the USF community eagerly anticipates their continued success.
What’s Next for CyberHerd?
The USF CyberHerd will be competing at the Raymond James CTF (Capture The Flag) competition this Saturday 10/5. This competition is focused on financial sector cybersecurity and commonly brings the participation of The John Hopkins University, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Purdue University, and several others.
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