Hack, Play, Win: Lessons Learned Running the Maryland Cyber Challenge

Cyber competitions are a popular way for cybersecurity practitioners to develop operational skills and acquire and demonstrate abilities and competence in a range of technical and non-technical knowledge areas in the quest for prizes and bragging rights. I describe how the lessons from current competitions can help future competition organizers run successful challenges of their own, and discuss whether such events are sufficient to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.