16 second-year and final year Cyber Security students from Bournemouth University (BU) attended a four-day course to test their hacking and problem-solving skills in tackling global cyber threats at the annual ‘Army Cyber Spartan 24’ event in Dorset in November.
The event took place at the Defence BattleLab and was organised by the British Army and industry partners CybExer Technologies and X-Net (Services) Ltd. Academics from BU’s Cyber Security courses were also on hand to offer their support to the students throughout the event.
BU’s Principal Academic in Cyber Security, Fudong Li said: “As the UK and its allies continue to face increasing threats from cyber criminals and internal and external-state hackers, the need to develop a robust talent pipeline has come into sharp focus. The event underlines the growing and pivotal role that future graduates will play in safeguarding both the UK and global digital landscapes from hostile actions.”
Students not only got the opportunity to hone their technical expertise but also build the leadership and collaboration skills needed in high-pressure, real-world environments as one of BU student explained: “Taking part in this exercise and being at the BattleLab was an incredible experience. I got to meet all teams involved in the event, industry experts and even the Royal Signals, who were handling the offensive side of the exercise. Getting to see the hardware that hosts the simulation up close was amazing! My ideas of how to enhance the design of future events were welcomed by the organisers and it felt great to be able to contribute while learning so much too.”
Located on the Dorset Innovation Park in Wool, the Defence BattleLab, offered a dynamic environment for the event, equipped with cutting-edge technology designed for operational cyber defence exercises and supported by front-line MOD cyber personnel. The competition tasked the students with identifying, responding and overcoming simulated cyber-attacks, testing their abilities in areas such as ethical hacking, threat mitigation, forensic analysis, and rapid-response teamwork.
Fudong Li continued: “By investing in the next generation of cyber professionals, initiatives like the ‘Army Cyber Spartan 24’ event ensures that the UK remains at the forefront of the global cyber security landscape. As our students, and all of those involved in the exercise demonstrated, the future of cyber defence is in capable hands.”
For further information about the Cyber Security courses available, please visit the BU website.
