ZeroDays CTF

ZeroDays capture-the-flag (CTF) (https://zerodays.ie) is a gamified cybersecurity challenge event and was founded in 2015 by TU Dublin cybersecurity academics Mark Lane and Mark Cummins. The competition started life as the national cybersecurity competition for college students within Ireland, but has grown to now encompass the Cyber Schools competition, aimed at secondary school students, and an Open competition, aimed at graduates and industry professionals. The event has grown from 80 participants in 2015 to over 500 in 2023, when it was hosted in Croke Park.

The CTF itself is a fun event, aimed at being inclusive and encouraging. The challenge highlights cybersecurity as an excellent, exciting area as a college and career choice, it is beginner-friendly and consists of a range of cybersecurity challenges as well lockpicking, VR gaming, escape rooms and puzzles.

As the event has grown, so has the demand for CTF events for schools and colleges, and in 2023 ZeroDays have run numerous challenges for schools and colleges around the country, and in conjunction with organisations such as the National Cyber Security Centre, CyberWise, TU Dublin and Microsoft Dream Space, as well as with student societies in various universities and colleges around the country. In 2023, it was noted that around 10% of first year cybersecurity students in TU Dublin Blanchardstown, chose their course after participating in ZeroDays CTF.

ZeroDays CTF also serves as a pathway to candidature and possible representation if the Irish cybersecurity team (https://cybersecuritychallenge.ie), which takes part in ENISA’s annual European Cyber Security Challenge (https://ecsc.eu). Students who show promise are invited to join the Irish squad for further training and bootcamps throughout the year, before a final team of ten is chosen in late Summer. The team is managed by Mark Lane (mark.lane@tudublin.ie, who is also Ireland’s representative on the Steering Committee of the ECSC.

 

 

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