CISA-Organized Cyber Competition Benefits Federal Workforce, Official Says

The main objective of the annual President’s Cup competition is to highlight skilled members of the federal workforce, according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency official managing the challenge.

Michael Harpin, the competition’s section chief at CISA, said the cybersecurity game provides recognition to talent who would not normally receive recognition due to the nature of the work, Nextgov/FCW reported Monday.

Established by a Trump-era executive order, the President’s Cup is in its fifth year. Team registration closed on Tuesday, while individual registration is ongoing until Feb. 6.

The President’s Cup tasks participants to complete games simulating common cybersecurity threats. Harpin told Nextgov/FCW that the activities are meant to be engaging, with scenarios like hacking into a casino.

The competition is also intended to educate government workers on basic cybersecurity concepts.

Harpin noted that while teams from the Pentagon and the military branches often join, there have been participants from the U.S. Postal Service, the FBI and other agencies in recent years.

CISA had previously looked into contractor support for the President’s Cup.