Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge

Summary

The Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge is an annual global competition that engages students in developing policy recommendations to address a fictional cyber catastrophe.

Details

Aim 

The aim of the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge is to deepen students’ understanding of the policy and strategy challenges associated with managing trade-offs during a cyber crisis. By engaging in a realistic, evolving scenario, participants analyze threats to national, international, and private-sector interests while formulating recommendations to mitigate the crisis. 

Context 

The Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge addresses the increasing need for skilled cyber policymakers in light of potential catastrophic cyberattacks. Policymakers have long speculated on the implications of such incidents, often referred to as “Cyber Pearl Harbor” or “Cyber 9/11.” The challenge serves as a training ground for future leaders, preparing them for the complexities of responding to cyber crises and the subsequent recovery phase. 

Activities*

For the 2024-25 competition season, the Strategy Challenge will take place in: 

• Cape Town, South Africa, on October 7-8, 2024 

• New York, New York, on October 18-19, 2024 

• Dundee, UK, on November 13-14, 2024 

• Paris, France, on January 29-31, 2025 

• Austin, Texas, on February 1-2, 2025 

• Washington, DC, on March 14-15, 2025 

* As of 21 October 2024