NSA recognizes Codebreaker challenger winners in ceremony shedding light on cybersecurity careers
In recognition of Georgia Tech's 2021 Codebreaker Challenge victory, a team from National Security Agency's (NSA) Academic Outreach team jointly hosted an in-person celebration at Georgia Institute of Technology's CODA Tech Square with Georgia Tech's School of Cybersecurity and Privacy.
The NSA Codebreaker Challenge (CBC) is an annual cryptanalysis and reverse engineering event that offers students at U.S.-based schools an opportunity to experience a realistic NSA mission-centric scenario typifying the work that NSA experts perform daily in defense of the Nation. This year's CBC involved a fictitious compromise to the defense industrial base - requiring strengthened skills in forensics, reverse engineering, protocol analysis, cryptanalysis, software development, and vulnerability research and exploitation.
Pamela Jock, Chief of NSA Academic Engagement, formally recognized Georgia Tech's eight CBC solvers in a letter of recognition, which she presented to solver and team lead Dr. Wen Xu. "Every year, less than 1% of participants solve the codebreaker challenge - this year, Georgia Tech had eight solvers,” Jock said. “That shows the depth of the dedication from Georgia Tech and the talent you have at this school. Our director, General Nakasone, says that 'Cyber is a team sport' and this win by Georgia Tech is an example of that."
