Loyola Cybersecurity Team Participated in Cyberforce Competition

Loyola University’s cybersecurity team earned an impressive 14th-place finish out of 94 teams at the Department of Energy’s Cyberforce Competition, held November 8-9, 2024 in St. Charles, IL. The two-day event, hosted in St. Charles, Illinois, brought together college teams from across the country to defend simulated critical infrastructure against a series of cyberattacks in a realistic, high-pressure setting.

Loyola’s team was led by captain Josh Honig and included team members Chloe Kilroy, Lynette Lim, Daniel Gaevskiy, Nathan Ferrell, and Sophia Homan. Throughout the competition, they were tasked with protecting a virtual smart city from a professional “red team” that simulated sophisticated, real-world cyber threats. In addition to maintaining core services, the team had to ensure the city’s website stayed fully functional. Alongside defending against continuous attacks, they also responded to various anomalies that required quick thinking and effective teamwork.

The team, coached by Dr. Eric Chan-Tin, demonstrated strong technical skills and resilience under pressure. Each member contributed to both offensive and defensive strategies, balancing tasks and adapting as they worked through challenging scenarios. Their performance highlighted their preparation, focus, and ability to communicate effectively as they navigated the competition’s demands.

Ranking 14th out of 94 reflects the hard work and dedication the team put into training and preparation. Dr. Chan-Tin expressed pride in the team’s performance and growing expertise in cybersecurity, a field that is critical to national infrastructure and public safety.

Congratulations to the team on their achievement and dedication — Go Ramblers!