What is CyberTaipan?
This program has been running successfully for 11 years and has already expanded into Canada as CyberTitan, the UK as CyberCenturion and Saudi Arabia as CyberArabia.
Throughout the competition rounds, teams of students are provided with a set of virtual images that represent different operating systems. Over a four-hour period, each team receives points for finding and fixing cyber security vulnerabilities, strengthening systems, and maintaining critical services. Teams compete for a chance to represent their school or community group in the CyberTaipan National Final.
CyberTaipan is open to high school-aged students with an interest in — or willingness to learn about — cyber security, defensive countermeasures and securing virtual networks.
Why is CyberTaipan important?
CyberTaipan is based on a proven framework for educating and inspiring high school students towards further education and careers in cyber security and other STEM subjects. CyberTaipan forms the Australian arm of a growing global Youth Cyber Defence Challenge Network that started in the United States as CyberPatriot and has since expanded to the United Kingdom, Canada and Saudi Arabia.
Impact reports from the CyberPatriot program (US) confirm that participants are far more likely to:
- pursue STEM education after high school
- pursue 4-year higher education
- consider careers in cyber security and the technical workforce.