From competing at HITB to running their CTFs
A long-standing relationship with Hack In The Box, the conference where hands-on hacking and research come first. We know it from the inside.
The Story
The relationship with HITB started before CTF.ae existed. In 2019, the cofounders were at the HITB Cyber Battle of the Emirates at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. One was playing the Pro CTF alongside global teams in an Attack/Defense format hosted by our friends at Hackerdom. The other was in the StandOff Red vs Blue exercise. We were participants before we were organizers.
By 2021, after a series of CTFs that gained traction in the community, Dhillon, founder of HITB, reached out. He asked us to run the UAE national CTF as part of HITB+ CyberWeek Abu Dhabi. The community responded. The CTF raised multiple talents who are now working in government cybersecurity roles.
The success of the Abu Dhabi edition led to a second engagement. In 2023, we were invited to host the HITB Pro CTF in Amsterdam. A different continent, a different audience, the same standard we set in Abu Dhabi.
The Journey
HITB Cyber Battle of the Emirates
The cofounders compete at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. One in the Pro CTF hosted by Hackerdom, the other in the StandOff Red vs Blue. Our first encounter with HITB as participants.
HITB+ CyberWeek Abu Dhabi CTF
Our first official engagement with HITB. 150 participants, 30 challenges, 48 hours. UAE national CTF that surfaced talent now working in government cybersecurity.
HITB Pro CTF Amsterdam
Invited to host the Pro CTF at HITB SecConf in Amsterdam. 126 participants, 16 challenges, 5 hours. A different continent, the same standard.
What HITB Means To Us
HITB is where the founding team fell in love with the competitive side of cybersecurity. It is where we met the people who shaped how we think about building CTFs. The conferences, the hallway conversations, the late-night challenge solving. It all started here.
Being asked to build the CTF for a conference we grew up attending is not something we take lightly. This is not just a client relationship. It is a community relationship, and it is one of the reasons CTF.ae exists.
Acknowledgement
Special thanks to Dhillon, founder of Hack In The Box, for the trust and the opportunity. And to Darryl Yeoh, event director, for the continued support across the years.
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