HARDEN
Reduce verified security exposure in a vulnerable or misconfigured environment while keeping required services operational.
Explore Harden ↗
← Back to CyberShield
COMPETITION.
Four-person teams move through Harden, Hack, and Hunt. Each track tests a different skill set, and all three contribute to the final ranking.
01 / THE JOURNEYDEFEND.
THREE DIFFERENT SECURITY PERSPECTIVES
DEFEND.
ATTACK.
INVESTIGATE.
CyberShield is one connected team competition made up of three distinct environments. Teams harden a defensive environment, attack a target network, and investigate evidence from a simulated incident.
The environments are designed around related professional skills.
View the preliminary schedule ↗EVERY TRACK
COUNTS.
HACK
Discover attack paths, exploit weaknesses, pivot through a separate target environment, and capture validated objectives.
Explore Hack ↗HUNT
Analyze evidence, reconstruct activity, identify indicators, and determine what happened during a simulated incident.
Explore Hunt ↗03 / WEIGHTED SCORINGONE RANKING.
ONE RANKING.
THREE RESULTS.
Each track may use a different number of available points. To prevent the largest raw point total from dominating the event, every track result is first converted to a score out of 100. The published track weights are then applied.
This produces one comparable overall score while preserving the intended importance of Harden, Hack, and Hunt.
EARN TRACK POINTS
Complete validated hardening checks, flags, and investigative objectives.
NORMALIZE TO 100
Track points earned ÷ track points available × 100.
APPLY THE WEIGHT
Multiply each normalized result by that track’s published percentage.
COMBINE RESULTS
Add the three weighted results to determine the overall ranking.
FINAL SCORE
(Harden normalized score × Harden weight) + (Hack normalized score × Hack weight) + (Hunt normalized score × Hunt weight)
The final percentage assigned to each track will be published before the competition begins. No percentage shown on an unofficial or earlier document should be treated as final.
04 / HOW POINTS ARE EARNEDMEASURE WHAT
MEASURE WHAT
THE TEAM ACHIEVES.
Measured improvement
Organizers assess the template environment before the challenge. After time expires, each team environment is scanned. Points reflect verified reduction in weighted security weaknesses while required services remain available.
Validated objectives
Teams earn points through CTFd for valid flags and required evidence obtained inside the authorized target environment. Higher-value objectives may require deeper access or several connected steps.
Evidence-based findings
Teams earn points through CTFd for correct investigative findings, validated artifacts, and accurate conclusions drawn from the provided incident evidence.
05 / FINAL RULESCLEAR BEFORE
CLEAR BEFORE
THE CLOCK STARTS.
TO BE CONFIRMED
The organizers will publish the final track weights, service checks, evidence requirements, penalties, leaderboard behavior, score-lock process, and tie-break order before competition begins.
- Only authorized environments may be tested
- Teams submit only work and evidence they obtained
- Competition and scoring infrastructure may not be attacked
- Final organizer decisions protect fairness and platform stability
06 / TEAM PRIZESPRIZES FOR THE
FOUR IDENTICAL BUNDLES · SIXTEEN ITEMS
PRIZES FOR THE
TOP FOUR TEAMS.
Each of the four highest-ranked teams will receive a CyberShield Team Prize Bundle. Every bundle contains four practical technology items for the team.
The top three teams will also receive training and certification opportunities. Training providers, certification exams, and award conditions will be announced when confirmed.
- 01
65W GAN CHARGER
Compact USB-C charger with cable.
- 02
6-IN-1 USB-C HUB
Ethernet, HDMI, power delivery, and USB connectivity.
- 03
ADJUSTABLE LAPTOP STAND
Rotating aluminum desktop riser.
- 04
SLING BAG
Compact crossbody bag with secure storage.
1 BUNDLE PER TOP-FOUR TEAM1 charger · 1 hub · 1 stand · 1 sling bag
17–20 SEPTEMBER · ADDIS ABABA
BUILD YOUR TEAM.
ENTER THE NETWORK.
Questions and rule updates will be shared on Telegram.