2023 SANS NetWars International Services Cup
Version: The brand-new NetWars Core 9 Tournament debut
Time: Wed 31 May & Thu 1 Jun. 4:30–7:30 PM (EDT) & 4:30–7:30 PM (EDT)
Virtual Reception: Wed, 31 May 4:15-4:30 PM (EDT)
Awards Ceremony: Thu, 1 June 7:30-7:45 PM (EDT)
Team Registration
Registration is now closed. Good luck to the participating teams!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for an invitation to the International Services Cup?
Elite military and government teams from each of the following Fourteen Eyes countries have been invited to represent their nation in the inaugural International Services Cup: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK, US.
This event is by invitation only and all teams have been confirmed. The entire event will be virtual, including opening reception, the competition itself, and closing ceremonies.
Which version of NetWars will be running during the International Services Cup?
The brand-new NetWars Core 9 Tournament debut.
What will be the list of topics covered in CORE 9?
- Operating system fundamentals
- Network protocol analysis
- Web application security
- Working with binary data
- Cloud control plane security
- API security
- Web assembly
- Container security
- Intrusion analysis
- Secure coding
Will there be a virtual reception?
Yes, SANS will hold a virtual welcome reception with Ed Skoudis and other special speakers before the tournament begins on Wednesday, 31 May from 4:15 - 4:30 PM EDT.
What is the team size limit?
The team size limit is five eligible players.
What will the winners receive to commemorate their victory?
The winning team will be honored by having their country and service branch information engraved on the brand new International Services Cup trophy. The engraved trophy will be sent to the location of the winning team’s choice for display.
Do I have to pay to attend the event?
No. This event is available at no charge to invited eligible teams, hosted by the SANS Institute.
Will there be a virtual Awards Ceremony?
Yes, SANS will hold a virtual Awards Ceremony with closing remarks directly following the completion of day two of the tournament, Thursday, 1 June from 7:30 - 7:45 PM EDT.
Whom do I contact if I have questions before the tournament?
- US
- US Army – Raymond Strawbridge (rstrawbridge@sans.org)
- US Army Nat Guard/Reserve – Eric Gladman (egladman@sans.org)
USN/USMC – Blake Neal (bneal@san.org)
- USAF/USSF Daryl Gilbertson (dgilbertson@sans.org)
UK – Sharif Gardner (sgardner@sans.org)
- Canada – Andrea Hogan (ahogan@sans.org)
- Australia – Steven Armitage (sarmitage@sans.org)
- New Zealand – Steven Armitage (sarmitage@sans.org)
- France – Axelle Saim (asaim@sans.org)
Netherlands – Alexander Kleipool (akleipool@sans.org)
Belgium – Anthony O’Keefe (aokeefe@sans.org)
- Germany – William Bartram (wbartram@sans.org) and Anne Lysun (alysun@sans.org)
Italy – Manlio Longinotti (mlonginotti@sans.org)
Spain – Marina Barroso (mbarroso@sans.org)
Sweden, Denmark and Norway – Rhys Palmer (rpalmer@sans.org)
Whom do I contact if I have questions during the tournament?
SANS instructors and TAs will be available on Slack throughout the tournament should any questions or issues arise. They can answer your questions in real-time.
Do I need to have a SANS account prior to the event?
Yes, you need to have your SANS account set up prior to the tournament. If you do not have an account yet, please sign up below.
When and how will I receive my login details for the tournament?
Your SANS representative will email you with login details the week of the tournament.
What are the laptop requirements for participation in the tournament? Do I need to download any tools or software to participate in the tournament?
You must have a laptop or desktop computer to participate. 8 GB of RAM or more and 20 GB of free disk space are required. You’ll need an up-to-date browser, such as Chrome, Edge, or Safari to participate. All tools needed for the range are provided as well, but you are free to use additional tools if you so choose. No virtualization software is required.
Can I test my connection to the NetWars platform prior to the tournament commencing?
Yes, the platform will be available 30 minutes prior to the published start time. If you experience issues with your connection at anytime during the tournament, SANS instructors and TAs will be available in Slack to assist you.
I understand the event is virtual, but do I need to be in the same physical location as the rest of my team?
No, you can participate from anywhere, and you can play as a team even if you are not physically together. Your team connection will be online.
Will there be a way for me to communicate with my team and other participants in the tournament (via Slack or another platform)?
Yes, we will have Slack channels set up for you to communicate with everyone involved in the tournament, as well as private channels for you to communicate with your team, or with SANS instructors and TAs. Alternatively, teams can use their own communication mechanisms to collaborate if you’d prefer.