--- title: Indiana Students and Professionals Tackle Cybersecurity Challenge description: MetroStar partnered with Dimension Mill (The Mill) to host a Cybersecurity Sprint Week Challenge. image: https://blog.metrostar.com/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(4).png --- [![MetroStar Systems Logo](https://blog.metrostar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/MetroStar_Jan2021/images/Logo-2021.png?width=413&name=Logo-2021.png "MetroStar Systems Logo")](https://www.metrostar.com/) - Who We Are - [Meet MetroStar](https://metrostar.com/who-we-are/) - [Leadership](https://metrostar.com/leaders/) - [Partnerships](https://www.metrostar.com/partnerships/) - [Innovation Lab](https://www.metrostar.com/innovation-lab/) - [Contract Vehicles](https://www.metrostar.com/contract-vehicles/) - What We Do - [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.metrostar.com/ai-and-government/) - [Digital Experience](https://www.metrostar.com/digital-experience/) - [Application Modernization](https://www.metrostar.com/application-modernization/) - [Enterprise IT](https://www.metrostar.com/enterprise-it-services/) - [Products + Solutions](https://www.metrostar.com/federal-government-products-solutions/) - Who We Serve - [National Security](https://www.metrostar.com/national-security/) - [Defense](https://www.metrostar.com/defense-customers/) - Insights - [Blog](https://blog.metrostar.com/) - [Case Studies](https://www.metrostar.com/case-studies/) - [News + Events](https://metrostar.com/news-events/) - Join Us - [Careers](https://www.metrostar.com/join-us/) - [Open Roles](https://www.metrostar.com/jobs/) - [Cleared Jobs](https://www.metrostar.com/cleared-jobs/) - [Veterans](https://www.metrostar.com/veterans/) - [Internships](https://www.metrostar.com/internships/) - [Contact Us](https://metrostar.com/contact-us/) - Who We Are - [Meet MetroStar](https://metrostar.com/who-we-are/) - [Leadership](https://metrostar.com/leaders/) - [Culture](https://metrostar.com/culture/) - [Partnerships](https://www.metrostar.com/partnerships/) - [Innovation Lab](https://www.metrostar.com/innovation-lab/) - [Contract Vehicles](https://www.metrostar.com/contract-vehicles/) - What We Do - [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.metrostar.com/ai-and-government/) - [Digital Experience](https://www.metrostar.com/digital-experience/) - [Application Modernization](https://www.metrostar.com/application-modernization/) - [Enterprise IT](https://www.metrostar.com/enterprise-it-services/) - [Products + Solutions](https://www.metrostar.com/federal-government-products-solutions/) - Who We Serve - [National Security](https://www.metrostar.com/national-security/) - [Defense](https://www.metrostar.com/defense-customers/) - Insights - [Blog](https://blog.metrostar.com/) - [Case Studies](https://www.metrostar.com/case-studies/) - [News + Events](https://metrostar.com/news-events/) - Join Us - [Careers](https://www.metrostar.com/join-us/) - [Open Roles](https://www.metrostar.com/jobs/) - [Cleared Jobs](https://www.metrostar.com/cleared-jobs/) - [Veterans](https://www.metrostar.com/veterans/) - [Internships](https://www.metrostar.com/internships/) - [**Contact Us**](https://metrostar.com/contact-us/) [blogs](https://blog.metrostar.com/) > [Career Growth](https://blog.metrostar.com/tag/career-growth) # Indiana Students and Professionals Tackle Cybersecurity Challenge 9 MIN READ 10/21/2021 | [Career Growth](https://blog.metrostar.com/tag/career-growth) | [Cyber](https://blog.metrostar.com/tag/cyber) ![A screenshot from The Mill's Sprint Week Cyber Challenge.](https://blog.metrostar.com/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(4).png) ## Sprint Week Background MetroStar partnered with [The Mill](https://www.dimensionmill.org/) to host a [Cybersecurity Sprint Week Challenge](https://www.dimensionmill.org/sprint-week/) from Oct. 10 to 15. Sprint Week is an annual event aimed at technology professionals and college students interested in cybersecurity, policy, business, tech, information technology (IT), and process improvement. > “The MetroStar team and The Mill organized such an amazing event,” said Jay Amlani, a participant and graduate student studying Computer Science at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), “I was able to learn a lot and made some great friends.” At the beginning of the week, MetroStar posed a cybersecurity-based challenge to participants, who were both students and technology professionals. Teams spent the next five days working together to find innovative solutions to the proposed challenge. A group of MetroStar’s cybersecurity experts hosted office hours during the week for participants to receive feedback on their proposals. Additionally, Anne McCombe, MetroStar’s Business Relationship Manager, was present to facilitate key questions from participants. McCombe serves as the primary MetroStar ambassador in Indiana by fostering community relationships and growing MetroStar’s culture and company in partnership with organizations like The Mill.​ At the end of the week, participants presented demos of their proposals and solutions to a panel of judges. The judging panel consisted of Ryan Abbott (VP of Defense & Intel at MetroStar), Keith Turpin (Chief Technology Officer at Technology Service Organization, U.S. Marine Corps), and Rob Templeman (Sr. Scientific Technical Manager at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division). The winning team took home $1,000 in cash and each winning team member received a full-time, six-month membership to The Mill. ## The Teams - SecureStar​ - Jay Amlani and Vernon Stevenson - Team FISH - Xinyi Liu, Yating Zhao, Farheen Samad, and Chiung Yi Tsai​ - Team Cloud​ - Peter Ackerman, Sai Prasad, Abraham Kim, and Hannah Jiao ## The Challenge The teams received the following challenge: > “Getting It Done (GID), Inc. (a fictitious company) is a small-to-medium size enterprise providing services to the U.S. Government and commercial organizations. Their regional office has plans to open in Fort Worth, Texas. They are looking to build a cyber program that will have servers running with minimal security protection and monitoring; however, the company currently lacks a strong security culture and has no policies relating to information security, acceptable use, etc. The company has also not recently considered [ISO27001](https://www.iso.org/isoiec-27001-information-security.html), [Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)](https://cobalt.io/blog/what-is-cybersecurity-maturity-model-certification-cmmc), or [NIST requirements](https://digitalguardian.com/blog/what-nist-compliance).” Each team was tasked to analyze the above scenario, identify aspects of research needed, and then create and deliver a proposal presentation discussing cyber solutions. The groups were expected to determine: - How to secure the company’s assets - What tools they would need to do so - The cost breakdown During the in-person demos, participants presented their teams' plans to the judges (mentioned above) to showcase how they would successfully help the fictitious company develop its security culture.  ## The Demo as Tweeted by The Mill > We're excited to be tuned into [@dimension\_mill](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)'s Sprint Week! > > MetroStar partnered with The Mill to pose a challenge to participants at the beginning of the week. Teams have spent five days hammering out solutions, and tonight they are unveiling their visions. 💡💡💡 [https://t.co/Jy5kKbYgia](https://t.co/Jy5kKbYgia) [pic.twitter.com/w89GnkkYl6](https://t.co/w89GnkkYl6) > > — MetroStar (@MetroStarSystem) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem/status/1449106199899738129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Sprint Week scenario from [@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw): You are a small-to-medium enterprise that seeks to open a regional office. You need to build a cyber program: Servers have minimal protection, not a lot of corporate security culture, and leaders don't really understand security. GO! > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449105226368172033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > The Sprint Week judges are seriously impressive! > Keith Turpin, CTO fo Technology Service Organization, US Marine Corps > Rob Templeman, Sr Scientific Technical Manager at [@NAVSEACrane](https://twitter.com/NAVSEACrane?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Ryan Abbot, VP of Defense & Intel at [@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449105815634337800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Team SecureStar is up first! They're presenting the risks the company is taking & how they're vulnerable. It's a long, scary list... of behaviors common to lots of companies. > > ....Aaaand now we suddenly want to back everything up and change all our passwords! [@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449106996117004289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Team SecureStar has a 30-60 day detailed implementation plan for the [#SprintWeek](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SprintWeek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) challenge. Are we cybersecurity experts at The Mill? No. Do we understand those details? Again, no. Are we impressed with this team and with [@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)? Heck yeah! > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449107822587924481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Team SecureStar also has a plan B for long-term [#cybersecurity](https://twitter.com/hashtag/cybersecurity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) safety. Judges are now asking questions about staffing. SecureStar has answers! [#impressed](https://twitter.com/hashtag/impressed?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#sprintweek](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sprintweek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449108501398163458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Next up, Team FISH! Their insight: employees think cybersecurity training is boring & don't think a phishing attack will happen to them. > They've got a cool plan for employees to try to phish each other--making it fun to learn & fun to trick colleagues. Heh heh[@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449110027239895042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Team FISH's "Make a Fish" competition has a flaw, they admit. What if it's too fun?![#ThingsNoOneEverSaysAboutCybersecurityTraining](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThingsNoOneEverSaysAboutCybersecurityTraining?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > [#SprintWeek](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SprintWeek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#gamification](https://twitter.com/hashtag/gamification?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)[@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449110836035866625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Team Cloud is up next! And they're presenting from the Event Hall at The Mill. Their slides have some kewl retro tech fonts & they're using a neat storytelling technique. Love seeing the creativity and different approaches the teams are taking.[#SprintWeek](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SprintWeek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449112378470289410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Team Cloud is working on not just fixing the cybersecurity problem, but modernizing the company's workflow. [#businesssavvy](https://twitter.com/hashtag/businesssavvy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#SprintWeek](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SprintWeek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449113081364221954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Team Cloud just described the [#sprintWeek](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sprintWeek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) challenge as a dumpster fire situation, LOL. [#SprintWeek](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SprintWeek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449114529431003138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#sprintWeek](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sprintWeek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) deliberations have begun!! tick tock, tick tock.... > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449115053203070976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)   ## Drum Roll: The Cybersecurity Sprint Week Awards During the demo, Team Cloud showcased they considered all aspects of the scenario, problem, and task. They considered the documentation and modernization needs of the company and built a comprehensive project plan. SecureStar understood the compliance aspects of cybersecurity and how non-compliance would harm the business and its customers. Lastly, Team FISH emphasized the crucial human element of cybersecurity. Team FISH focused on phishing attempts and developed a unique approach to training staff and developing a security-first culture. After a brief deliberation from the judges, Team Cloud placed first, SecureStar placed second, and Team FISH placed third. MetroStar extends congratulations to each of the participants for their hard work and innovative ideas.  > And the winner is Team Cloud! They'll get $1,000 in cash and 6-month full-time memberships!!! [#sprintWeek](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sprintWeek?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is a wrap... Thank you, [@MetroStarSystem](https://twitter.com/MetroStarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), for how much time, energy, & passion you poured into your sponsorship! > > — The Mill (@dimension\_mill) [October 15, 2021](https://twitter.com/dimension_mill/status/1449119339811155968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Learn more about [The Mill](https://www.dimensionmill.org/) and check out our latest cyber-related roles at MetroStar by visiting [our job board](https://www.metrostar.com/join-us/). [![let's chat](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7196770/fd9fdb03-8ecb-4181-9dc6-83bb615aa9cf.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7196770/fd9fdb03-8ecb-4181-9dc6-83bb615aa9cf) ![Picture of Rachel Teter](https://blog.metrostar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Rachel-Headshot_BW.jpg?width=150&name=Rachel-Headshot_BW.jpg) Written By: [Rachel Teter](https://blog.metrostar.com/author/rteter) Content Writer ### you might like these too ### [MetroStar’s Cedric George Honored for Advancing Readiness, Empowering Veterans, and Delivering Mission-Critical Impact](https://blog.metrostar.com/cedric-george-nvc-veteran-of-year) ##### Career Growth | Management | MetroStar Culture | Making an Impact ### [Stephanie Haynes Positioning MetroStar as a Federal AI Powerhouse](https://blog.metrostar.com/metrostar-federal-ai-powerhouse) ##### Career Growth | MetroStar Culture | Making an Impact | AI/ML ### [Cedric George Is Modernizing Military Logistics at MetroStar](https://blog.metrostar.com/cedric-george-dod-exec-year) ##### Career Growth | Management | Awards | Making an Impact [view more](https://blog.metrostar.com/tag/career-growth) ## want to stay in the loop? 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