Student Chosen to Attend Exclusive Cyber Security Camp
Posted: October 03, 2017 | Author: Kaden Mcbride | Read Time: 2 minutes
As the world becomes more connected through technology, the threats to our security grow even more numerous. Standing at the gate to defend against cyber attacks are people like Landon Beach, a senior from Springville, Utah who is majoring in computer science at Southern Utah University.
As president of SUU’s Cyber Defense Club, Beach was one of two students invited to represent the Thunderbirds in the exclusive Western Regional Cyber Camp put on by the U.S. Cyber Challenge in July 2017. Here Beach met with other camp attendees which included students and high-level industry professionals. As part of the camp, he was given training from industry professionals and SANS instructors who are among the most trusted sources for information security training in the world. The camp is part of the USCC and the Department of Homeland Security’s ongoing mission to train the top minds in cyber security as they face future threats.
Some of the high-quality training Beach received taught him about Windows memory forensics, cyber security program analysis, web application pen testing and packet crafting with Scapy. He also learned the latest information on different methods and techniques used by hackers to hide their code in programs in an effort to evade anti-virus software.
“In addition to the high quality training, the camp also provided an Ethics Panel and a Resume workshop,” Beach said.
On the last day of camp, the participants took part in a capture-the-flag exercise designed to test what they had learned.
“I felt prepared working alongside professionals...I do some of this here at SUU as a student. I felt like I had quite a bit of training and was on par with everyone else,” said Beach.
Luke McCormack, former CIO of the Department of Homeland Security, spoke to the camp attendees saying, “You are the SEAL Team 6. Recognize that, band together, and bolster your skills through these types of programs. Encourage others to do the same because there is a big need in this country for skilled cyber-security professionals.”
“The [Computer Science and Information Systems’ department] is really growing,” said Beach. He named Dr. Robertson and Dr. Ball as the professors who have helped him learn the most about cyber security and forensics at SUU.
Beach is happily employed with SUU’s security department where he helps defend the school’s network by “Doing what I can to help out.”
Looking into his future, he says plans on becoming a software engineer or working in cyber security. He feels the camp not only furnished the cyber security know-how, it also provided the opportunity to network with other professionals and the future leaders in the field.
This article was published more than 3 years ago and might contain outdated information or broken links. As a result, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Tags: Computer Science Blog
