This year’s autumn competition will be held online from November 26 to 29, allowing cybersecurity professionals from around the world to gain valuable new knowledge and skills they can apply to protect users, companies, and entire nations.
In June, the Standoff Cyber Battle became a fully international event for the first time during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, featuring 42 teams from 21 countries across Central and South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In November, 60 teams from 26 countries—including Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, as well as countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America—will join the competition on the attacking side (the red team). The online format allows hundreds of specialists from nearly every continent to participate. Standoff 14 marks a new level of international cyber exercises, showcasing how foreign red teams handle simulated attacks on the infrastructure. Defender teams (the blue team) from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, and Ethiopia will test their skills in incident investigation.
The virtual nation on the cyber range will replicate the systems of enterprises across four sectors: energy, oil and gas, finance, and IT. This setup immerses participants in their roles, allowing them to hone skills in defending against cyberattacks and identifying vulnerabilities in infrastructure. The red teams will aim to execute several dozen high-stakes events during the competition.
A total prize pool of $50,000 awaits the winners.
A dedicated broadcast and analytics studio will provide comprehensive coverage of the cyber battle, with daily recaps hosted by stream leaders, alongside experts, infrastructure developers, and representatives from both red and blue teams.
In 2024, the number of global cyber incidents continues to surge, rising 15% in Q3 compared to the same period last year. For example, in Q2, cyberattacks in India increased by 46%, and in the Middle East, incidents tripled in Q1 amid regional tensions. Worldwide, government sectors are the most targeted by cybercriminals. Industrial enterprises rank second in India and the Middle East, while financial organizations hold that spot in Africa. In this climate, preparing cybersecurity professionals and sharing expertise is vital for all countries. Cyber battles are a proven way for specialists to quickly gain valuable hands-on experience in analyzing malicious activities and defending against them.
