Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge

The Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, in partnership with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), is proud to host the inaugural Monterey, CA Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge on November 7–8, 2025. 

We’re excited to welcome competitors, coaches, and judges to our first-ever Cyber 9/12 competition on the West Coast. The competition will be held in-person on the MIIS campus.

Overview

Since its launch in 2012, the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge has become the world’s premier cyber policy and strategy competition, training more than 5,000 students in both cyber policy analysis and presentation. Working in teams of three to four, students will respond to a fictional cyber crisis scenario with far-reaching implications for national security, public policy, diplomacy, and more. Teams will present their policy recommendations to a panel of expert judges drawn from government, industry, and civil society, who will provide feedback, an evaluation, and in-depth Q&A of each team’s analysis and briefing. 

Eligibility

This competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all academic disciplines who have a relevant interest in cybersecurity, public policy, crisis management, or related fields. By participating, students will develop key skills in policy analysis, strategic thinking, and effective communication, while also networking with leading cybersecurity professionals and potential employers across sectors.

If you’re new to the competition, we encourage you to visit the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge Preparation Materials page. There you’ll find a helpful starter pack, rules and grading rubric, and playbooks featuring award-winning recommendations from past competitors. We also regularly post articles highlighting alumni’ stories and judges’ experiences and perspectives, offering insight into the real-world impact of the competition and the professional journeys it helps shape.

Register

Team registration will be open on the Atlantic Council website from August 15-September 26, 2025. Register your interest to receive updates from the MIIS planning team on Cyber 9/12 activities..

For further questions, please contact cyber912@atlanticcouncil.org. We hope to see some of your members in Monterey this Fall!

Judges, Sponsors, and Partners

This competition brings together top students from across the country to tackle the cascading effects of a simulated cyber incident with national security consequences. Over 5,000 students have participated globally, developing key skills in strategic thinking, crisis response, and policy analysis. We’re inviting leaders from the private and public sector to get involved.

Benefits to Your Organization

• Connect with top talent from cyber policy, tech, and international affairs programs
• Build brand visibility through sponsorships, panel talks, or career expo presence
• Access résumés of Semi-Finalist & Finalist Cyber 9/12 competitors 

Ways to Engage

• Sponsor the event and be listed on promotional materials
• Host a booth at our career fair on Friday, 7 November
• Network with rising talent and industry professionals at our Friday evening reception
• Nominate a company representative to serve as a competition judge or as a panelist for a discussion relevant to the competition’s intelligence scenario
• Share job postings or insights with the Cyber 9/12 alumni network

We hope you join us in supporting the future of cybersecurity and policy leadership. You can find more information about the competition at the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge website. 

Feel free to contact cyber912@atlanticcouncil.org or cyber912miis@middlebury.edu for additional details.