JDF cops inaugural all-female cybersecurity competition

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has emerged the overall winner of the inaugural ‘SheSecures Jamaica’ National Cybersecurity Competition.

The all-female team attained maximum points of 325 after successfully completing all eight challenges in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cryptography, Web Hacking and Forensic Analysis.

Teams from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) copped second and third places, while St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), scored the highest points in the secondary school category.

Organised by the Ministry of National Security in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS), SheSecures Jamaica targeted females who have a keen interest in information and communication technology (ICT) and/or cybersecurity.

Addressing the awards ceremony held on April 18 at Jamaica House, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, said that the competition aimed to provide women and girls with a platform to bolster technical proficiency in cybersecurity.

“At the heart of this initiative lies the commitment to fostering diversity and also encouraging more women to pursue careers in cybersecurity,” she pointed out.

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with oversight for Skills and Digital Transformation, Dr Dana Morris Dixon, noted the importance of highlighting females in ICT.

She observed that in an industry as dynamic and influential as technology, having a workforce that reflects the diversity of users and the user base ensures that products and services are accessible to a broader audience.

“The inclusion of women in ICT brings numerous benefits that extend beyond the boundaries of the sector itself, contributing to innovation, economic growth and social equity,” she noted.

SheSecures Jamaica emerged out of a gender and cybersecurity framework aimed at closing the gender gap and promoting diversity in cybersecurity.

The objective is to inspire women to develop their technical skills and learn more about the field.

The OAS sponsored competitions across the region, with Jamaica standing out as the country with the highest number of high-scoring teams, boasting 12 teams that successfully completed all challenges.

- JIS News

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