The Cyber for HER hackathon, supported by the UK Government, aims to enable aspiring young women to gain better opportunities in cyberspace and further support cyber workforce development in India and beyond.
The initiative is part of the India-UK Cyber Programme, which aims to build an enhanced cyber security partnership, strengthening the deep links between the people and economies, as well as creating more resilient supply chains and a safer cyberspace for all.
The cyber security industry is undergoing significant shifts and there is a growing need for more cyber professionals to strengthen organisational security posture. Like many nations, India and the UK face disparities in gender diversity within their cyber workforces along with notable professional skill gaps across the cyber security domain. To bridge this gap and build capacity, this hackathon will encourage more young women into the industry and provide an opportunity to explore cyber security careers.
The Hackathon will take place in two phases, with the first phase being virtual, focussing on creating non-technical cyber awareness assets. The second phase will be an in-person round in Delhi where participants will compete for Capture the Flag style hackathon solving technical challenges. Phase two challenges will be centred around Reverse Engineering, Mobile Security, Digital Forensics, Web Application Security, Cyber Exploitation, and Hardware Security. Candidates can register as an individual or as a team of up to three. Registrations are now open at https://www.dsci.in/content/cyber-for-her
Dominic Gillan, India-UK Cyber Programme Manager, British High Commission, New Delhi said, “The UK is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that empowers young women to excel in the field of cyber security. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, resilience against escalating cyber threats and challenges requires a diverse workforce across all areas of the cyber security domain. This event underscores the urgent need for gender diversity in the industry, and we are excited to support initiatives that open doors to new opportunities and drive innovation through diverse perspectives.”
Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI, said, “DSCI, through its various initiatives, has been striving to create a diverse and inclusive cyber security workforce. With rising cyber threats and the continuously evolving attack landscape, organisation security functions should be equipped with necessary technology capabilities and resources to remain safe. Cyber for HER is another step in this direction and we feel proud to do our bit to promote women in cyber, acknowledging talent from tier II, tier III and small cities to create a difference.”
