Team from MTU takes cyber security gold

A TEAM of cyber security experts from Munster Technological University (MTU) has become the first team from Ireland to win gold at a global cyber security competition held this week in Melbourne, Australia.

The cyber security experts from MTU beat opposition from Australia, Korea, Chinese Taipei/Taiwan and Singapore at the competition.

The team is now setting its sights on the upcoming WorldSkills International Cybersecurity Competition to be held in Lyon in September.

The MTU team included Mark Drinan, a recent graduate from the Cybersecurity Masters programme at the Bishopstown institution, and Luke Woodside, a graduate from the Technological University Shannon and Managing Director of Woodside Networks.

They was trained and mentored by MTU Cybersecurity lecturer and Worldskills Ireland Expert for Cybersecurity, Dr. George O’Mahony using MTU’s Cyber Range, the only state of the art platform of its type in the country.

It offers a facility which enables simulations of cyber attacks on virtual organisations, providing training for students, researchers and industry professionals without risking real world damage.

As part of the Global Skills Challenge, the teams were put into the scenario of a real-world cyber-attack on a fictitious company that was started based on a rogue malicious USB and insider threat.

MTU president, Professor Maggie Cusack, congratulated the team from the university on what she described as ‘their extraordinary achievement of winning gold at the WorldSkills Cybersecurity Challenge’.

“MTU’s leadership in cybersecurity education, research and innovation, mentorship and training ensures that our graduates and trainees have the skills, capabilities and confidence to succeed at the highest levels in Ireland and globally,” said Professor Cusack.

According to team mentor Dr George O’Mahony, the win was a great example of the work of Ireland’s cyber security academics and experts in preparing young Irish professionals to compete on the world stage”.

Team member Mark Drinan said he was “incredibly proud to represent my country and bring home a gold medal for Ireland” adding, “this medal represents Ireland’s commitment to investing in high-quality, practical cybersecurity education.”

The chair of Worldskills Ireland, Ray English congratulated the MTU team on their success in Melbourne and wished them well in the ‘Olympics’ in Lyon in September.