About the CyberBoat Challenge

Cybersecurity issues are closely guarded secrets today and discussions about cybersecurity posture or vulnerabilities rank in the core concerns of any organization, especially as our interconnected world brings processing power and storage into everyday products.

Understanding security posture, issues, and solutions is essential. While some progress has been made through Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs), there’s a lack of focus on engaging engineers and preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, particularly for the transportation sector.

The CyberBoat Challenge addresses this need by fostering industry collaboration, education, mentorship, and recruitment—equipping participants with the insights and connections to tackle cybersecurity challenges effectively.

Who Should Participate?

College students interested in maritime cybersecurity are invited to register and attend.

Professionals in the maritime industry are encouraged to attend, sponsor, and mentor during the event.

Security professionals interested in embedded networked systems used in recreational and commercial marine systems are invited to teach and mentor students.

Government representatives responsible for cybersecurity policies, procedures, enforcement, and training for maritime are welcome.

Requirements of Participation

Participation at the CyberBoat Challenge is by invitation only and requires participants and visitors to sign a non-disclosure agreement. All participants and visitors are responsible for their own travel expenses unless you are a student (to whom we may offer partial reimbursement or travel stipend).

There are four categories of participants: 1) Students, 2) Industry, 3) Government, and 4) Security Research Mentors. (Speakers and Instructors are also participants.)

Students must apply to attend the CyberBoat Challenge that will be reviewed and approved by the CyberBoat Challenge Board of Advisors. Faculty must recommend the student.

Industry participants must demonstrate some level of sponsorship to attend as a participant.

Government employees and contractors may participate provided they contribute to the mission of the CyberBoat Challenge.

Security Researchers will be invited to attend and provide mentorship for students based on referrals and professional accomplishments. Please contact the organizers for more details.

Our Mission & Vision

Value to UAS Industry Partners

UAS Hack will strongly support industry interests, aiming to offer comprehensive insights, essential tools and invaluable resources to enable OEMs and suppliers to excel in the cybersecurity realm, leading to the development of increasingly advanced UAS products. Through collaboration with top-tier talent and ongoing vigilance of cybersecurity trends, industry partners will acquire invaluable insights that guide their product development strategies and fortify their cybersecurity resilience. They will also be provided the opportunity to interact with emerging talent, identify potential recruits and cultivate enduring relationships with the brightest minds in the field.

Note: All attendees will sign an NDA; what occurs during the challenge remains confidential. Industry partners will be given the opportunity to cull photographs and recordings before they are used.

Mission

Following in the successful model of the CyberAuto, CyberTractor and CyberTruck Challenges, the mission of the CyberBoat Challenge is two-fold:

Develop the next generation workforce by bringing awareness, excitement, professional involvement, and practicum-based training to the maritime cyber domain.
Establish a community of interest for maritime cybersecurity that transcends individual companies or departments and reaches across disciplines and organizations to make a more universal and experienced base of engineers and managers.

Vision

Ubiquitous, reliable, safe, and cost-effective transportation is key to our way of life and a prime ingredient of the American lifestyle. The CyberBoat Challenge, along with its sponsors, believe the cybersecurity of the transportation domain – whether ships, boats, cars, trucks, planes or heavy equipment – is at the core of an important new industry and discipline. The CyberBoat Challenge teaches techniques and understanding of this domain, and also helps facilitate collaboration among industry, academia, the research community, and government. This event will be strongly pro-industry and seek to provide understanding, tools, and highly useful resources to help manufactures, designers, and suppliers master the cybersecurity domain and create progressively superior products.