Another Competition Where USF CyberHerd Team Shines in a National Cybersecurity Challenge, Securing $40,000 Prize
The USF CyberHerd team, a part of the USF College of Engineering and , has achieved a remarkable milestone, placing second in the U.S. Department of the Navy鈥檚 鈥�)鈥� and winning a $40,000 prize. Competing against some of the nation鈥檚 top-tier cybersecurity teams, the team from USF鈥檚 Computer Science and Engineering department demonstrated impressive skill and innovation during the challenge in late October 2024, bringing pride to USF and strengthening the university鈥檚 standing in cybersecurity education.
Hosted by the the University of Mary Washington, the CRAM competition required participants to design models and algorithms to measure cyber resiliency of an environment based on a descriptive document referred as the System Under Evaluation (SUE). This entailed assessing a system鈥檚 capability to withstand and operate under sophisticated cyber threats known as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), which pose serious risks to critical infrastructure.
The CyberHerd team, coached by Dr. Marbin Pazos-Revilla, comprising of Brianna Deaubler, Michelle McAveety, Grant Stevens, Samir Jihadi, Alex Sanders, and Nicholas Kleespies, worked round-the-clock for several weeks even under unfavorable conditions due to the two hurricanes that impacted the Tampa Bay and surrounding areas. There dedication demonstrated exceptional skill and ingenuity, which earned high praise from the NSWCDD panel and ultimately secured their second-place victory, with George Mason University taking first and the U.S. Naval Academy finishing third.
, USF Computer Science & Engineering undergraduate, said, "The CyberHerd's victory at NAVSEA Dahlgren was not an easy feat. I focused on providing the front-end graphical user interface for our HERD tool, requiring me to coordinate closely with other team members to bring the tool to our clients. As a new CyberHerd member, I am incredibly proud to have had such a momentous opportunity to represent the university at a national level. Being the first programming-centric challenge that the CyberHerd has tackled, CRAM brought many learning lessons regarding teamwork and coordination which will help us succeed in our future achievements."
About the Competition
CRAM鈥檚 objective was for teams to create innovative solutions that would automate resilience assessments, with an emphasis on identifying and evaluating vulnerabilities within system architecture, software, and hardware components, and various other elements.
USF鈥檚 CyberHerd team impressed the CRAM judges with a solution named HERD (Holistic Exploit Risk Discovery) Tool, that effectively addressed the requirements using various AI models and was adaptable on the fly to changing environments.
Each member contributed their expertise in areas like software development, data science, and cybersecurity. Their teamwork and dedication resulted in a dynamic, cohesive solution that effectively addressed the CRAM challenge鈥檚 objectives and resulted in another team victory after multiple other competitions like the Raymond James Capture the Flag Competition on 10/05/24 where the team came in first!
鈥淭he competition involved the use of various Artificial Intelligence agents as part of a system with the ability to assess the resiliency and cybersecurity posture of an environment, based on a descriptive document of the physical space, IT equipment, personnel, operations, and various other elements in that environment. This competition was serious test of the resiliency of our team, as during the preparation for this competition we were hit with back-to-back hurricanes. Even with the hardships the students faced, the team remained steadfast focused on the target to deliver and aim for a win,鈥� said Dr. Marbin Pazos Revilla.
The CRAM Challenge Unfolds In Three Stages
Phase I: Proposal Submission
Teams submitted applications outlining their proposed approach, which were evaluated by a Government Review Panel.
Phase II: Models and Algorithms
The teams focused on developing mathematical models and algorithms, working to calculate the probability of failure in cyber defenses against a variety of threats.
Phase III: Product Demo
In the final phase, each team demonstrated their product to the NSWCDD Panel, which assessed each solution鈥檚 effectiveness and practicality.
Sriram Chellappan, faculty advisor for the CyberHerd team, reflected on the team鈥檚
accomplishment, 鈥淭he Herd values the importance of using its skills, training, and
experiences to protect national security. To be able to first-hand experience cyber
challenges that the US Navy faces, and to propose solutions to combat these threats
is a matter of immense pride to the Herd.鈥�
CyberHerd Coach Marbin Pazos Revilla echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the impact
of this achievement, 鈥淭he Navy CRAM Challenge helped showcase the critical thinking
abilities we foster in our students, as well as the character and resiliency to overcome
obstacles to deliver outstanding solutions that help protect our freedoms and national
assets."
By excelling in this rigorous competition, USF CyberHerd exercised their technical proficiency and resilience, bringing innovative, scalable solutions to national cybersecurity challenges. Their accomplishment at the CRAM Challenge is a testament to USF鈥檚 College of Engineering commitment to cybersecurity education and research, placing its students among the nation鈥檚 rising stars in cyber defense. Congratulations to CyberHerd for their inspiring example of engineering excellence and innovation in cybersecurity!
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