Rising cybersecurity stars: AUS students shine with second place in regional competition

The impressive cybersecurity skills of American University of Sharjah (AUS) students earned them second place in the regional category of the Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition’s (CPTC) ninth round. 

CPTC is a cybersecurity competition organized at the regional and national level to prepare college students for careers in the field through real-world challenges, feedback from industry professionals and networking opportunities. The competition helps students identify and report risks, address problems and complete tasks in real-time, similar to a professional environment in the cybersecurity industry. 

Competing teams from across the region were challenged to conduct a comprehensive security assessment of the fictional company Robert A. Kalka Metropolitan Skyports (RAKMS). The teams were tasked with evaluating RAKMS's corporate infrastructure, including breaking into four subnetworks, one of which was a sensitive Industrial Control Systems train network, and another was an Amazon Web Services Infrastructure comprising over 25 hosts, each with various services and technologies.

The AUS student team members were computer engineering students Adham Elmosalamy, Hassan Abouelela and Aley Eshra; computer science student Omar Safwat; student Abdulaziz Mohammed, who is double majoring in computer science and mathematics; and economics student Ahmad Ayman. Their faculty supervisor was Dr. Ra'afat Abu-Rukba from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

"This competition was a crucible for our skills in planning, organization, time management, maintaining composure under stress, written communication and professionalism. It demanded a rock-solid foundation of technical knowledge," said Elmosalamy, team leader.

The team's professionalism and ability to handle client situations were put to the test with unexpected face-to-face encounters. For instance, they had to address corporate staff accusing them of disrupting the network and prepare a presentation on the risk of RF interference for RAKMS's CEO within just one hour.

"The dedication and performance of our students in this competition exemplify the excellence that AUS strives to achieve in cybersecurity education. This success highlights our commitment to preparing students for real-world challenges in the field of cybersecurity," said Dr. Abu-Rukba.

Following the assessments, the team crafted a 50-page report that detailed their technical findings, recommended remediation strategies and provided insights into aviation industry regulations and cybersecurity compliance.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to my dedicated members who juggled their academic commitments to achieve this remarkable feat. Success was the result of five months of relentless preparation and practice. Special recognition goes to newly inducted members, Aley Eshra and Abdulaziz Mohammed, who displayed a passion for learning and earned professional cybersecurity certifications after months of dedication and multiple exam attempts,” added Elmosalamy.

This semester, the team leveraged the experience they gained from the competition held last academic year, where they secured second place in the Middle East regional category and earned a spot in the national competition. Using the knowledge gained from those experiences, they established the Security Operations Center, AUS' first cybersecurity club, to share their knowledge and foster a vibrant and competitive cybersecurity community at AUS, representing the university in future competitions. The SOC is supported by the AUS Department of Computer Science and Engineering and co-advised by Dr. Anas Al Majali and Salsabeel Shapsough. The club, fully managed by AUS students, welcomes those passionate about cybersecurity and eager to explore the field. 

For student Mohammed, who recently joined the team, the experience has provided him with a better idea of what a career in cybersecurity might entail.

"Collaborating with my team and engaging in weekly dedicated practice on online labs greatly contributed to our preparation. This year, we methodically developed a report outline aimed at reducing post-practical stress. The competition itself was brilliantly designed, resembling a real-life simulation, and it provided me with valuable insights into my future professional aspirations,” he said.

AUS computer science and computer engineering programs are designed to align with the UAE's National Cybersecurity strategy, which aims to create a safe and strong cyberinfrastructure in the UAE that enables citizens to fulfill their aspirations and empowers businesses to thrive.

To learn more about CEN programs, please visit www.aus.edu/cen.