NetWars to test the skills of infosec professionals

At SANS London 2011, Europe’s largest IT security training event, NetWars will be launched for the first time in the UK.

NetWars participants compete in a mock enterprise environment to test their defensive, analytic, and offensive cyber skills applying the real-life skills they need to succeed in protecting their organizations.

NetWars will test a wide range of skills including OS hardening, application vulnerabilities, penetration testing, malware analysis, packet analysis, and more.

The difference from every other security challenge out there? These skills will be tested in a fun and deeply realistic, practical environment that will separate those who can talk about security from those that can really deliver. NetWars draws on the considerable experience of SANS, building in modern examples of security issues seen in the field – it is sure to be fun and challenging for even the industry’s best.

“In SANS award-winning courses, attendees consistently rate our hands-on exercises as the most valuable part of the course. With NetWars, we have really raised the ante, as participants learn while working through the various challenge levels, ALL HANDS-ON, with a focus on skills information security professionals can use in their jobs every day,” said Ed Skoudis, Instructor with the SANS Institute and the Director of NetWars.

“NetWars is all about testing the skills in an applied fashion that could actually be used by the corporations, police forces, and government agencies that have been attacked and breached throughout 2011. There are often too many theoretical discussions on cyber security, missing the value of firsthand experience,” explains James Lyne, a Director of SANS EMEA.

“Although NetWars is played as an interactive, competitive challenge, it simulates the real world,” Steve Armstrong, SANS certified instructor, points out that, “The skills needed to succeed in the tournament are critical for IT security professionals to learn and be able to deploy if they are to meet modern cyber based attacks.”

This year’s NetWars is expected to host participants from over a dozen countries and on top of bragging rights, there will be prizes too. “We still have places left and the equipment requirements are minimal – the challenge is not about having the latest software or hardware – it is all about the skill and knowledge to put theory into practice against your peers. Come along, have some fun, and sharpen your skills!” Lyne adds.