The National Cyber League concluded the Fall 2024 NCL Competition with participation from all over the United States, representing all 50 states. Each season the NCL publishes its Cyber Power Rankings of the top 100 schools within the competition. These rankings measure students' abilities to work individually and as a team in performing a wide range of cybersecurity tasks.
CHEVY CHASE, Md., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The National Cyber League concluded the Fall 2024 NCL Competition with participation from 9,260 students and 789 high schools, colleges, and universities from all over the United States, representing all 50 states.
The NCL Competition, powered by Cyber Skyline, is a biannual event that enables students to prepare and test themselves against practical cybersecurity challenges that they will likely face in the workforce, such as identifying hackers from forensic data, pentesting and auditing vulnerable websites, recovering from ransomware attacks, and additional cyber skill sets.
The Cyber Power Rankings is a published list of the top 100 schools within the NCL, representing the hard work and skills of collegiate and high school students. These rankings measure students' abilities to work individually and as a team in performing a wide range of cybersecurity tasks.
Highlights from the Cyber Power Rankings include:
- Top three schools from the Standard Bracket, from first to third, are the California State University - Chico, the SANS Technology Institute, and United States Military Academy.
- First place school from the Experienced Bracket is the SANS Technology Institute.
- First place high school is Mountain View High School.
View the entire Cyber Power Rankings list here: cyberskyline.com/data/power-ranking/fall-2024-national
Students that participate in the NCL receive valuable performance data through individualized Scouting Reports, which aligns their experience to industry certifications and government standards. With these reports, they are able to showcase tangible evidence of their technical skills to employers.
"As a coach, I've seen firsthand how the NCL Competition bridges classroom learning and real-world cybersecurity challenges," said John Hally, NCL coach at SANS and principal security architect at NETSCOUT. "It not only challenges students technically but also cultivates teamwork, resilience, and adaptability—qualities that are essential for succeeding in the cybersecurity workforce."
NCL Commissioner Dr. David Zeichick is an NCL coach and professor at the first-place school in the Standard Bracket, University of California, Chico.
"It's truly inspiring to see new players and teams joining each season, a testament to the competition's continued growth and influence. Hearing from former players who are now thriving in cybersecurity roles—and who credit the NCL experience as a stepping stone in their careers—underscores the impact of this competition on future professionals. The NCL isn't just a challenge; it's a launchpad," said Zeichick.
Sponsorship from companies like Cipher Tech Solutions are imperative for NCL to provide scholarships, mentorship programs, and career building events to its students.
"Through Cipher Tech's partnership with NCL, we have been able to build connections and provide support for those entering the workforce, in addition to welcoming NCL participants as new hires who have quickly become invaluable assets to their teams. Not only does participation in NCL provide real-world experience that can be applied to a future career, but it is also a great addition to any resume to show drive, commitment, and a passion for cybersecurity." said Kathy McMillion, Director of Technical Recruiting, Cipher Tech Solutions.
Registration for the spring 2025 competition is open from Jan. 27 to March 21. The cost to participate is $35, with late registration from March 22 - 25 and a cost increase to $45.
About the National Cyber League
Established in 2011 by an alliance of public agencies dedicated to developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, the National Cyber League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization aiming to help students develop, practice and validate their cybersecurity knowledge and skills. To learn more, visit nationalcyberleague.org.
About Cyber Skyline
Founded in 2014, Cyber Skyline is a leading cloud-based cybersecurity skills evaluation platform helping students and professionals track their skills growth and helping businesses find, identify and cultivate talent. Cyber Skyline operates the NCL Competition with the support of the National Cyber League. To learn more, visit cyberskyline.com.
Media Contact
Emily Kalandranis, National Cyber League, 1 240-720-7870, [email protected], nationalcyberleague.org
SOURCE National Cyber League
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