A valuable learning experience for students pursuing careers in cybersecurity.

2026 Competition Details

Coming Soon

Apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired in school in real-world situations and gain practical experience in defending against cyber threats. CCDC is also an excellent opportunity for networking and exposure to potential employers in the cybersecurity field.

Minnesota Cyber Defense Competition

Team- Based Competition

Participating college or university students form “Blue Teams” who work together to defend a simulated corporate network infrastructure against a “Red Team” of professional pen testers and hackers.
Scoring

A panel of judges, often comprised of industry professionals and experts, evaluates the performance of each team based on various criteria, including their ability to maintain network availability, respond to incidents, and adhere to best practices in cybersecurity.
Hands- On Experience

The scenarios used in CCDC mimic real-world threats that cybersecurity professionals might face in an enterprise environment. Points are awarded based on ability to detect and respond to security incidents, maintain network services, and complete business tasks while under constant attack from the Red Team.

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Nora Falling- Hennepin Technical College Team

“For me, participating in CCDC wasn't just about winning, but was about learning how to work as a team, while honing my skills, Having this opportunity helped to give a realistic expectation of what it could potentially be like to defend an organization during an ongoing attack. CCDC was an immersive experience that challenged me to think critically, communicate effectively, and collaborate with teammates under intense pressure. I am genuinely grateful for this opportunity as it has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally while being a part of an exceptional team.”