Photo By Spc. Paul Zepeda | Programmable logic controllers used in industrial control systems on display at the...... read more read more
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The energy in the room was as electric as the hundreds of computers connected to the NetWars battlefield. The lights dimmed, and the control panels flickered as a countdown timer projected onto a large screen located at the front of the auditorium, illuminating a sea of competitors. The annual NetWars event had officially commenced as cyber professionals across the globe keyed away at their computers in the hopes of being crowned the winner. NetWars is a competitive, hands-on training exercise hosted by the SANS Institute during Cyber Shield 2026 at the Professional Education Center on July 18, 2026.
Participants fostered a festive atmosphere, complete with food, drinks, and costumes. Competitors expressed their unique personalities through custom keyboards, multiple-monitor setups, and hacker-themed outfits.
The NetWars event marked its 13th consecutive year at Cyber Shield. NetWars simulates cyberattacks on industrial control systems using real-world scenarios to construct a true-to-life training environment, complete with an immersive storyline to keep competitors engaged in their network defense roles.
The SANS Institute has partnered with the National Guard for over ten years to offer cybersecurity classroom instruction and hands-on training modules. The annual event provides an opportunity for U.S. Department of War units to collaborate with professionals from around the globe.
"This is meant to be reinforcing everything you learned in class and doing it as a team," said Tim Conway, a NetWars organizer from the SANS Institute. "The way we run it, they've been training all week, and now they get to actually do and apply the learning. They understand this is why we learn that, this is why we taught it in the class, and this is how I'll use it when I leave here."
NetWars is a collaborative game in which teams compete for points by capturing "flags." The flags are anomalies on a specially designed, closed network used as the electronic battlefield, requiring participants to hunt for rogue IP addresses and malicious code.
Due to the broad scope of an international training exercise, NetWars challenges even experienced cybersecurity professionals to collaborate and creatively solve problems with team members who may have different skill levels or come from different countries. Most teams are composed of experts who fill specialized roles in the cybersecurity field. Some are network penetration experts who look for weaknesses in a network and exploit them, and being placed in a defensive role means they know exactly what to look for.
"It's the team-based aspect, the gamification where you're competing," Conway said, noting that the exercise goes beyond typical training expectations. "So there is a culture where they're trying to compete; they want to win."
NetWars is not just for battle-hardened cybersecurity experts. The vast scope of training opportunities offered at Cyber Shield 2026 allows newcomers to the field to learn cyber defense skills and discover their role in the digital world.
Capt. Joshua Harr, assigned to the Tennessee 118th Air National Guard wing, advocates for bringing new talent from his home unit to Cyber Shield to participate in NetWars.
"We love bringing guys new to the field and just throwing them into the deep end, seeing what they've got," Harr said. "Oftentimes, it sparks something in them, and they want to come back. It's a way to strengthen our existing capabilities."
The University of Arkansas Power Group, under the team name “Increased Lethality,” placed first in the NetWars competition, led by Dr. Christopher Farnell of the RIOT Lab. RIOT Lab is a group from the university that focuses on advancing cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. The specialized group comprises professors, PhD students, graduate students, and undergraduate students.
From senior leadership guiding the exercise to the SANS Institute organizers and the multinational array of competitors, the atmosphere at Cyber Shield 2026 demonstrates that cybersecurity is the future of defense, both on the home front and abroad. The true victory of the exercise isn't just the points scored on the NetWars board; it is the global network of defense that Soldiers and civilian professionals built to protect their communities.
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.04.2026 09:32 |
| Story ID: | 570672 |
| Location: | LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 14 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NetWars: A Cyber Shield Tradition, by SPC Paul Zepeda, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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