Local students win UK cybersecurity competition

A team of Bayside students has won the UK-wide CyberCenturion 2016 competition following an “intense” day of competitions held yesterday at Bletchley Park.

The competition pitches teams of young computer programmers from across the UK to compete in tackling cybersecurity challenges.

The Head of Physics at Bayside secondary school, Steward Harrison, led Team G-Sec members Peter Zagura, Michael Cruz, Jared Cruz, Jan Azzopardi, Aaron Baw, Abdullah Shuja and Louis Smalls to the win.

Speaking to the Chronicle just after the result was announced, Mr Harrison said he and the students were “right now trying to find our feet and process what has actually happened.”

“We were all confident we would do well but we did not know this would happen. We are very happy.”

Aaron Baw, who organises the team and sets out their strategy, also said he was feeling happy and he and his team members have “such a sense of accomplishment as we worked hard and it has paid off.”

He said that it was an “intense and hectic” day adding that it was amazing to be at Bletchley Park, which was the top secret home of Britain’s code experts during World War II.

The team have won a framed letter dating back to April 1944 and marked Top Secret and will also have lunch with top executives from Northrop Grumman, a global security company specialising in autonomous systems and other aspects of the cyber world.

That could open doors for the local youngsters in the future.

Andrew Tyler, the European CEO from of Northrop Grumman, tweeted yesterday that “the number one challenge he has is cyber recruitment.”

Not only did G-Sec win the competition they also conquered last year’s winners KEGS Sixth, from King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford in Essex, who were back to defend their title.

The team will land back on the Rock this evening.

Last night, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo acknowledged Team G-Sec’s achievement and tweeted: “Gibraltar is immensely proud.”