Critical Infrastructure Security Showdown 2023 (CISS 2023)
Competition Information
Critical Infrastructure Security Showdown 2023 (CISS 2023) is a premier and one-of-its-kind cyber exercise in operational technology. This international exercise is held entirely remotely and opened to invited international participants. CISS 2023 is a organized by iTrust (Centre for Research in Cyber Security), sponsored by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and co-organised with the Ministry of Defence, Singapore.
iTrust is the proud host of several world-class testbeds and training platforms. These testbeds and training platforms together constitute a one-of-a kind facility for research and training in the design of safe and secure large-scale cyber-physical systems. The interconnected testbeds support R&D, technology validation, international cyber exercises, education and training programmes towards the safety and security of cyber-physical systems.
The objectives of CISS 2023 was to develop capabilities for defending critical infrastructure (CI) / cyber-physical systems (CPS) under cyber-attacks, validate and assess the effectiveness of technologies developed by researchers & commercial entities with iTrust, understand composite Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) for enhanced Operation Security.
CISS 2023 marked my first exposure to Operational Technologies (OT), a field that captivated my interest due to its intricate connection with critical infrastructures. Its distinct characteristics set it apart from Informational Technologies (IT), and the consequences of exploitation are beyond comprehension. One significant insight I gained is the prevalent tendency for individuals, including myself involved in the exploitation or penetration testing of OT systems to approach them using IT exploit methodologies. It was an honour and privilege to be able to participate in the finals of CISS 2023 as part of the top 10 participating teams. I am aiming to continually pursue knowledge and achieve a comprehensive understanding of the Operational Technologies (OT) domain.
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