CYLAB SECURITY ACADEMY

Competitors

Show up when the clock starts. Scoring, prizes, and team play vary by event.

Cybersecurity, on a timer

CyLab Security Academy hosts mini-competitions throughout the year, plus an annual flagship for US middle and high school students. Each event is a timed challenge drop with its own rules for scoring, prizes, and team play. Everything else on the platform stays self-paced.

Create an account How events work
Academy platform · Event page

How events work

Every event is a timed challenge drop with a published start and end. Beyond that, each event sets its own rules:

  • Scoring: most events run a real-time scoreboard; some are scoreboard-free challenge drops.
  • Prizes: some events carry prizes, with eligibility criteria posted with the event.
  • Team play: some events allow teams of up to five; others are solo only.
  • Eligibility: anyone can compete for learning and self-improvement; prize eligibility may vary.

Outside an event window, the Challenge Library and Learning Paths stay open for self-paced practice.

Competitor FAQ

What's a CTF event?
A time-limited release of challenges to solve. Most events score in real time on a scoreboard; some skip the scoreboard for low-stakes practice. Prizes and team play are set per event. There’s no penalty for wrong guesses; only the flag counts. Events are optional: you can use the platform indefinitely without ever entering one.
Do I compete solo or in a team?
Either. After registering for a teamplay-enabled event, the My Team page lets you create or join a team of up to 5 players. To be eligible for prizes, all teammates must meet the event’s rules.
Are there prizes?
Some events do, with eligibility criteria posted with the event. Anyone else is still welcome to compete.
When's the next event?
Check the Events tab once you’re logged in for the current schedule. We post a fresh slate of mini-competitions throughout the year plus an annual flagship.
What if I've never competed before?
Start with the CTF Primer and a beginner-friendly path from the Learners page. Then enter any event that catches your eye; there’s no penalty for trying.