Last Cyber Security Challenge finalists named

The last three finalists who will bid to become the UK's Cyber Security Champion have been named.

This weekend the last of three stages making up the road to the 2010 Cyber Security Challenge UK final was held.

Simon Walker, a software consultant from Tring, was named the winner of the Sophos and SANS Institute Cyber Security Challenge Treasure Hunt.

Alan Steer, an IT support worker from Rugby, came second, whilst RAF engineering officer Jack Dipper from Suffolk came third.

They will all head to The Masterclass, due to be hosted in Bristol at HP Labs on 5 March 2011, along with winners and runners-up of the other two stages.

"I entered Treasure Hunt on the advice of a colleague and I didn't see myself as a serious contender. It's a shock," the winner Walker said.

"Now I've won I am really looking forward to seeing what I can do in the final."

James Lyne, senior technologist at Sophos and a member of the Challenge board, said he was highly impressed by the quality of candidates.

"My hope is that this challenge will encourage others to consider cyber security as a phenomenal career option."

IT PRO went to see some of the candidates in the previous challenge, when teams went up against one another in the network security contest.

Some were as young as 17 and still in school, whilst others were university students or graduates.