APU Student Demonstrates Cyber Security Prowess in Blue Team Challenge 2023

Chang Shiau Huei, APU cyber security champion, demonstrated real-world skills when faced with a series of unique challenges that required her to investigate realistic cyber security scenarios, track down attackers who targeted a corporation, and collaborate with like-minded individuals and cyber security specialists.

Chang Shiau Huei beams with pride as she holds up her winning certificate.

Chang Shiau Huei, President of the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) Forensics and Cyber Security Research Center - Student Section (FSeC-SS) and a Cyber Security student, won first place in the Blue Team Cyber Security Challenge 2023 (with KC7).

The competition, which she competed for the second time, was held online, and brought together cyber security enthusiasts from all over the world to put their skills to the test.

All participants are divided into random groups, with cyber security students and specialists assigned to each group.

Shiau Huei was chosen to join Team 17 of the Missing_Haxolotyl, and she was then faced with a series of unique challenges that required her to investigate realistic cyber security scenarios, track down attackers who targeted a corporation, and collaborate with like-minded individuals and cyber security specialists.

Navigating through security audit records stored in Azure Data Explorer (ADX), Microsoft’s cloud-based data storage service to formulate recommendations for actionable steps to enhance a company’s cyber security defences, were some of the obstacles.

The logs, which contained a wealth of information concerning cyber activities, had to be evaluated using the Kusto Query Language (KQL), as well as several ways for tracking Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs).

Shiau Huei completed all the challenges and was selected as one of the competition’s champions together with her teammates Tawon Saetang, Carl Hastings, Chiung-Ying Dohn, Jason Oh, and Will Hargis.

“I recall being confused about how to format KQL searches the first time I tried it because I was still new to it.

“After a lot of practises with KC7’s modules, as well as writing up some of them, I have definitely improved a lot in my efficiency and speed in formulating the necessary KQL queries to retrieve the information I wanted,” she said.

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According to her, her team brought their A-game to the task and tackled many challenges, leading to breakthroughs and eventually wrapping up every question in the module, resulting in a first-place finish.

“Because the competition was largely about building KQL queries, knowing SQL from one of my prior modules (IDB) helped a little with understanding the database structure.”

In addition to her skills and knowledge, Shiau Huei is passionate about sharing knowledge with others about cyber security as a member of FSeC-SS, an APU student club that promotes cyber security awareness and education.

Her mentor and FSeC-SS Advisors, Ms Nor Azlina Abdul Rahman and Ms Noris Ismail, also contribute to her accomplishment.

Shiau Huei’s success in the Blue Team Cybersecurity Challenge 2023 should serve as an encouragement to other cyber security students and enthusiasts.

She is a shining example of what can be accomplished with hard effort, determination, and a desire to learn.

By sifting through numerous types of security records, she has gained skill in recognising potential dangers and assisting in evaluating whether malicious persons are targeting an organisation.