Individual · Test and prepared presentation

Cybersecurity

You will propose how a company should respond when an employee takes sensitive data.

You prepare a response.You take a cybersecurity test.You present if you advance.

What you make or do

Prepare for a test of cybersecurity vocabulary and knowledge.
Create a visual presentation explaining the security problem, evidence, recommended protections, and trade-offs. Prepare printed citations and any required consent forms.

This year’s challenge

At fictional FinStream Technologies, a departing engineer downloads source code and client financial data to an unencrypted USB drive. Explain immediate protections, how to investigate the data loss, and policy changes.

How the competition works

Before the event

Study cybersecurity and prepare your presentation before the conference, even though only semifinalists deliver it. Bring your laptop with the presentation downloaded.

First round

Take a one-hour individual cybersecurity test. The test determines who advances.

If you advance

Present your solution to judges acting as a corporate board for three minutes, then answer questions for two minutes.

Know before you choose: This event includes both a test and a presentation prepared in advance. Audio is not permitted in the presentation, and you must be ready to use your own laptop screen.

How your work is scored

Judges assess the test, the explanation and importance of the issue, your proposed response, visual communication, interview answers, and delivery.

Download the official rubric or score sheet (PDF)

Open the scoring pages within the full event guide

Read the full 2027 theme or preparation information

Problem Statement:  FinStream Technologies is a fast-growing financial technology startup. During a routine audit, the security team notices anomalies in the network logs. A senior software engineer who recently submitted their two-week notice has been downloading unusually large volumes of proprietary source code and client financial data from the cloud repository to a local workstation and subsequently transferring it to an unencrypted external USB drive. Analyze the immediate actions required to secure the data, investigate the scope of the exfiltration, and recommend policy changes.

Official files to keep

Read the guide, current challenge, and updates together. This overview helps you choose; the official documents give the full requirements.

Guide evidence: 123–130. Annual sources checked September 10, 2026. These are national competition rules; your teacher will confirm any regional or state changes.

Interested in this event?

Use the notes sheet to check what this choice would involve.

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