News Releases

Regis to Host 12th Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition

  • March 11, 2022

Seven teams to complete in event that simulates a business cyberattack

 

Regis University will host its 2nd virtual and 12th consecutive Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (RMCCDC) from March 25-26.

Seven teams from the four-state Rocky Mountain Region to test their cybersecurity skills, knowledge, and abilities. The top seven teams to compete in RMCCDC finals are:

  • Brigham Young University (BYU)
  • Red Rocks Community College (RRCC)
  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Ensign College
  • Southern Utah University
  • University of Colorado Denver
  • Kansas State University

 

Finalists will work remotely as a replacement security operations team at a fictitious company that is under attack by an adversary called the Red Team. RMCCDC specifically focuses on the operational aspect of managing and protecting an existing commercial network infrastructure while continuing business operations. The competitlion provides all competing universities a chance to test the strength of their curriculum while competing students find out how they do against long odds and intense pressure. 

Many employers are searching for future cyber security, network and systems engineers.  There are approximately 600,000 vacant cybersecurity positions in the US with approximately 23,000 in Colorado, mostly in the Denver and Boulder areas. 

“This competition along with other outreach efforts by Regis University’s Anderson College of Business and Computing is an attempt to help fill the massive demands for cybersecurity professionals,” said Bob Bowles, Director of the Center for Information Assurance Studies at Regis.

“Every year, our student teams compete using a business scenario the organizers concoct thanks to our sponsors Raytheon Intelligence & Space, Palo Alto and the ISACA Denver Chapter.  This competition would not be possible without their generous donations.”

"Regis provides approximately 60 volunteers that unselfishly sacrifice their time to enable these students a path into cybersecurity careers,” Bowles said. “Many of these students will be protecting organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and our great nation against the ever-increasing battle against cyber threats and attacks.”

Shari Plantz-Masters, dean of the Anderson College said Regis University is committed to preparing graduates for careers.

“Hosting the RMCCDC event for over a decade is one way we help students develop career ready skills. As a signature event for the Anderson College of Business and Computing, we emphasize the business impact of the cybersecurity profession in a near real-world experience for students,” she said. “Competitors complete the competition with a strong sense of how protecting their cyber environment contributes to the business sustainability."

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Established in 1877, Regis University is a premier, globally engaged institution of higher learning in the Jesuit Catholic tradition that prepares leaders to live productive lives of faith, meaning and service. Regis University, one of 27 Jesuit universities in the nation, has three campus locations in the Denver metro area and extensive online program offerings with more than 6,000 enrolled students. For more information, visit www.regis.edu.