Now entering its fourteenth year globally, the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge is a one-of-a-kind cyber competition designed to provide students from across academic disciplines with a deeper understanding of the policy and strategy challenges associated with management of tradeoffs during a cyber crisis. Part interactive learning experience and part competitive scenario exercise, it challenges students to respond to a realistic, evolving scenario of international cyber crisis, analyze the threat it poses to national, international, and private-sector interests, and provide recommendations on the best course of action to mitigate the crisis. Since its establishment in Washington, DC, in 2012, the competition has expanded its reach globally, with regional competitions across the United States, as well as in London, Dundee, Geneva, Paris, San José, and Cape Town.
Through the competition, students have the unique opportunity to interact with expert mentors and high-level cyber professionals while developing valuable skills in policy analysis and presentation. To date, the competition has engaged over 1,000 students from universities in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Indo-Pacific, Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Through its unique crisis scenario format, mentorship, recruiting, and networking opportunities, the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge has expanded its global reach, will continue to build on its reputation as a pipeline for the next generation of cyber policymakers, and will continue to grow as a global community of multidisciplinary cybersecurity professionals.
A major cyber attack has occurred—how should your nation respond?
Why Cyber 9/12?
For years, policymakers have explored what a catastrophic cyberattack might look like— with terms like “Cyber Pearl Harbor” or “Cyber 9/11” regularly referenced in the US. In 2012, the Cyber Statecraft Initiative took this debate and examined it from a different point of view. In anticipation of national cyber crises, like a Cyber 9/11, how can we train future cyber policy leaders to handle the crisis? How can we prepare them for the day after the incident, the Cyber 9/12.
In the twelve years since Cyber 9/12 was established, the competition program has grown into an internationally recognized brand and experience for students interested in cyber policy.
Infographic
Preparation materials
Locations
For the 2025-2026 competition season, the Strategy Challenge will take place in:
- Paris, France, on January 29-31, 2025
- Austin, Texas, on February 1-2, 2025
- Washington, DC, on March 14-15, 2025
- Geneva, CH, on April 10-11, 2025
- Monterey, California, on November 7-8, 2025
- New York, New York
Dates and additional locations will be added soon. Please be sure to check our page, our LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) regularly for updates.
January 29-31, 2025
Paris, France
In partnership with Geode, University of Paris 8, and the French Institute of Geopolitics, students are faced with a developing crisis at the intersection of society, politics, and cyber. This competition in the EU provides students and experts from France, and beyond, an opportunity to build their cyber policy capacity—all while competing for bragging rights and prizes.
February 1-2, 2025
Austin, Texas
March 14-15, 2025
Washington, DC
In Washington, DC, student teams confront a serious cybersecurity breach of national and international importance. Hosted in a hybrid format with our partners at American University School of International Service and the Washington College of Law, students must present recommendations and justify their decision-making process, considering the role and implications for relevant civilian, military, law enforcement, and private sector entities and updating the recommendations as the scenario evolves.
April 10-11, 2025
Geneva, CH
In partnership with the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, students will respond to a fictional, evolving cyber scenario and will develop policy recommendations to a panel of senior judges that takes into account the intersection of society, politics, and cyber within the European context.
November 7-8, 2025
Monterey, California
In partnership with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, this competition is designed to provide students from across academic disciplines with a deeper understanding of the policy and strategy challenges associated with the management of tradeoffs during a cyber crisis. Hosted at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, we are excited to offer our inaugural Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge on the west coast of the United States.
Registrations open in August 2025.
Dundee, UK
In partnership with Dewar Cyber Consulting Ltd (DCC Ltd), the Scottish Government, and Abertay University, this second edition of the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge will take place at the newly launched cyberQuarter in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. Students will work together to craft actionable policy recommendations in response to a scenario that examines cyber threats to resilience. This competition is only open to students enrolled in colleges and universities based in Scotland.
Watch the recording of the 2023 Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge at Abertay University.
The NextGen Fund
Cyber 9/12 is a singular opportunity to sharpen the leading edge of the cyber skills pipeline through competition, training, and teamwork. This pipeline is not yet sufficiently diverse however, reflecting a critical challenge for the broader cybersecurity community. Cybersecurity benefits from a richer set of voices and perspectives, in the analysis, at the keyboard, and in the boardroom.
Making Cyber 9/12 accessible to underrepresented students and nascent professionals in the cybersecurity community is more than a goal, it’s a core requirement. The NextGen Fund builds on Cyber 9/12’s legacy as a unique global competition and history of innovation to bring the best and the brightest into the cyber workforce of the future.
Supported by
Presented by
The ’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, part of the Technology Programs, works at the nexus of geopolitics and cybersecurity to craft strategies to help shape the conduct of statecraft and to better inform and secure users of technology.
