EFSC Cyber Titans Earn Third Place in Statewide Cybersecurity Competition

Eastern Florida State College's Cyber Titans cybersecurity team has earned third place in the Fourth Annual Florida College System Cybersecurity Competition, demonstrating the technical expertise and problem-solving skills that are preparing students for careers in one of the nation's fastest-growing fields.

The Cyber Titans finished among the top cybersecurity teams in Florida, earning third place overall in competition with 17 colleges from across the state in a challenging virtual cyber range environment designed to replicate real-world cyber threats and incidents.

The Cyber Titans Team included Jason Beck, Ryan Bryant, Andrew Klinsic, and Christen Stone.

Led by Nicole Dyess, EFSC assistant professor of Advanced Technology and Computer Science and manager of the EFSC Center for Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, the team successfully identified, analyzed, and responded to complex cybersecurity challenges during the statewide competition, which was hosted by the Florida College System as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

"This achievement reflects the hard work, dedication, and talent of our Cyber Titans students," said Dyess. "Cybersecurity requires critical thinking, teamwork, and the ability to respond under pressure. Our students demonstrated all of those qualities while competing against outstanding teams from across Florida."

The competition challenged students to detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber threats through realistic simulations that tested their ability to manage and defend network infrastructures while making decisions in high-pressure scenarios like those encountered by cybersecurity professionals.

Florida remains the only state in the nation with a systemwide college cybersecurity competition of its kind. This year's event featured 17 teams representing institutions across the Florida College System.

“We are extremely proud of EFSC’s Cyber Titans led by Assistant Professor Nicole Dyess,” said College President Dr. Jim Richey. “Earning a Top 3 spot in the state in this highly competitive event is something which all Titans should be proud. This highly challenging competition showcases Florida's very best. Just to compete at a high level is an honor much less being recognized as one of the best programs in Florida, a state recognized for leading the nation in workforce education. This latest success is one more example of the commitment of our faculty to prepare students for high-demand careers that meet the needs of employers on the Space Coast.”

In addition to the competition, students participated in professional development opportunities alongside technology leaders from across Florida. The event included sessions focused on industry trends, workforce needs, and emerging cybersecurity challenges facing the state and nation.

All participants received a cyber range certification from Global Business Solutions, Inc. Winning teams were evaluated on their ability to efficiently operate, manage, and defend network infrastructures across multiple simulated organizations.

The Florida College System Cybersecurity Competition supports the mission of the Florida College System Cybersecurity Collaborative, which brings together cybersecurity leaders from Florida's public colleges to strengthen workforce partnerships, expand opportunities for students, and advance cybersecurity education statewide.

For more information about Eastern Florida State College's cybersecurity programs, visit easternflorida.edu or call 321-632-1111.

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