02 Apr 2024|Noida | Amity University, Noida
NCIIPC-AICTE Pentathon 2024: India’s first national Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing(VAPT) Grand Finale kicks off at Amity University, Noida
Inaugurating the Grand Finale of the 48-hour long Pentathon 2024, an initiative of NCIIPC in partnership with AICTE at Amity University , Noida. Mr. Navin Kumar Singh, IPS, Director General, National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), Govt. of India, and while delivering the inaugural address, laid out the objective of realising the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat of the Honourable Prime Minister wherein our Critical Information Infrastructure(CII) should be protected by our own young talent. Expressing commitment to long term skilling in cyber security and indigenising the Indian cybersecurity landscape, Mr Singh expressed that the long term vision is to build start ups and Indian companies which can export cybersecurity services to the world.
Throughout this intense 48-hour period, shortlisted participants from various technical colleges and universities across India will engage in real-world cybersecurity challenges, simulating the complexities of protecting critical information infrastructure (CII) entities. Leveraging their technical acumen and ethical hacking skills, participants will strive to identify vulnerabilities and propose effective mitigation strategies.
Amongst 8000 students who participated in first round, only top teams and individuals have been shortlisted. The winners and other talented participants will not only be rewarded through prizes but also recognised for real world VAPT, subject to them meeting the standards and after due vetting.
Dr Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman AICTE thanked NCIIPC for conceptualising and driving the idea, Amrita University as challenge platform providers and Amity as hosts for collaborating with AICTE. Sharing valuable four tips with the participants, Dr Jere said, firstly, that this is a big opportunity to learn skills by being problem solvers to the given solutions, which is unprecedented and cannot be learnt in their colleges. Secondly, this is a big opportunity to learn how to work in a team and crack problems including time management. Thirdly, through these platforms, students can contribute to the national development where companies and the government will come to the participants for solutions. Lastly, among the finalists, apart from winners, those recognised would find this a unique opportunity to add in their resume and help in career progression.
Expressing extreme pleasure on hosting the Pentathon Dr. Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor Amity University Uttar Pradesh, said “It is a great pride for Amity to be the Nodal Center for the prestigious competition wherein top 2% talent of the country is competing. Today, the journey of learning starts for participants, journey of building new networks and the most important becoming the part of the important critical problems at national level and finding solutions. This competition has in a big way promoted Innovation Culture and created an awareness , an opportunity to find solutions to given problems. Amity University will be providing its state-of-the -art infrastructure to the participants. Since this is a 48-hour long event, Amity will also hold a Yoga Session at 6 am and Cultural Programme to de-stress the coders and provide them a comfortable stay and joyful experience.
The Grand Finale will culminate with a final valedictory ceremony on 4th April 2024 where outstanding performers will be felicitated, acknowledging their exceptional contributions towards enhancing India’s cybersecurity resilience” .