Nazarov Dmitry Mikhailovich Scientific director of the CTF-competition. Doctor of Economics, Associate Professor. Head of the Department of Business Informatics at USUE

The CTF (Capture The Flag) Competition is a team-based, practice-oriented information security event in which participants simulate cyber attacks on an IT infrastructure and work together to prevent them. Teams competing in the Red Team and Blue Team roles participate. The Red Team acts as an offensive security force, identifying weaknesses in any level of protection, while the Blue Team monitors and investigates, identifying and preventing any threats. 

The goal of the CTF Competition is to enhance the quality of training in information security and to promote the field of cybersecurity to the general public and students. 

Objectives of the CTF Competition:

• Identifying talented individuals from the student community and identifying potential future opportunities for their development in information security
• Stimulating interest in operating, developing, and applying modern information security technologies
• Formation of basic knowledge and development of practical skills in the field of information security. 

The participants of the CTF (Capture the Flag) Competition are students of all levels of education, postgraduate students, researchers from educational institutions, academic institutions, and other organizations interested in Russia aged 18 years and older. Participation is possible in teams of up to 4 people each.

Registration for the CTF Competition is carried out before March 23, 2025, through the registration system on the website. 

Individual participants or group members submit an application for participation via the registration system, selecting the category of "team participation" and then "team leader" or "team member." In the "Subject of work" field, each participant indicates the name of his or her team. The leader of the team attaches a document to the application form, listing all members of the team. 

Registered teams will participate in the preliminary round of the competition remotely from April 1 to 14, 2025. 

The list of teams that will compete in the finals and are invited to the on-site stage to compete in the final rounds will be published on the CTF website on April 20, 2025. 

The CTF final will take place on April 23 from 8:30 am.m. to 6:40 p.m., with awards presented on April 24 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Winners and medalists of the CTF event will receive diplomas and monetary prizes:

• 15,000 rubles for the 1st place
• 10,000 rubles for the 2nd place
• 5,000 rubles for the 3rd place 

The winner of the CTF who receives a 1st-degree diploma will also receive points for individual achievement when applying for a master's program at USUE (2 points).