Schedule and description of rounds (legacy)

Teams must compete for six consecutive hours in any one of the three days given for the round.

Round 1 (All teams participate)

Challenges are fairly easy. Tests basic cybersecurity skills.

Round 2 (All teams participate)

All teams may compete even if they did not compete in Round 1 or had a low score. More difficult than Round 1, to allow teams to be divided into skill-level tiers for the State Round.

Tiers:

• Platinum: top 30%, only tier with a chance to go the the national finals

• Gold: middle 40%, can compete for State and Tier Awards

• Silver: bottom 30%, can compete for State and Tier Awards

State Round (Teams participate in tiers)

All teams may compete with a clean slate. Past performance or participation in Rounds 1 and 2 do not count toward placement. Teams compete against other teams based on skill level for State Awards and Tier Awards. Top 25% of teams enter semifinals.

Semifinals​ (Top 25% compete)

Top teams compete for Tier Awards. Platinum Tier and top Middle School Division teams compete for advancement to the National Finals Competition. Top 12 Open Division teams qualify for the national finals competition.

National Finals Competition

National Finalist teams compete for National Championship in their respective divisions.