NSI 2007 - Republic Polytechnic Promotes IT Security via Novel Competition 

Following its highly successful run in 2006, Republic Polytechnic hosted its second Network & Security Investigation (NSI) competition on 5 and 6 November 2007 at Agora Hall.  NSI is a unique competition in which students from secondary schools in Singapore pit their wits and guile to investigate IT crimes and to secure IT systems. This year, more than a hundred students from 22 secondary schools donned the hats of IT security investigators à la the TV hit series ‘CSI’.

Developed and run by the School of Information & Communications Technology (SIT) and supported by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (iDA), NSI is a competition that tests the participants’ abilities in the areas of digital forensics and IT systems defense. Competitors were neither desk-bound nor passively staring at computer screens. Instead, they was a high level of action, including moving around to find clues or secure devices, and high pressure scenarios that needed intense discussion and analysis.

Upper secondary students from participating schools were grouped into teams of three. The competing teams had to search for evidence at the ‘crime scene’ and conduct the necessary digital forensic investigations to help solve the case. In addition, the teams were also required to conduct investigations to test the strength of a system’s defense. To prepare students for the competition, Republic Polytechnic conducted two workshops for participants in September 2007.

The competition kicked off with the qualifying rounds on 5 November 2007 and the top 7 teams were selected for the Finals which was held on 6 November 2007. The awards presentation was officiated by Guest of Honour, BG David Koh, Director (Military Security), Ministry of Defence. Top ‘investigator teams’ were awarded to:

Champion:               Raffles Institution (Team 2)

1^st Runner-up:         Raffles Institution (Team 1)

2^nd Runner-up:         Hwa Chong Institution  

The NSI Competition is Republic Polytechnic’s contribution towards iDA’s effort in promoting IT to the younger generation. It is part of the National Infocomm Competition series organized by iDA to help boost greater awareness and use of IT at the national level. Republic Polytechnic’s initiative in promoting IT in such an innovative manner has received strong industry backing in the form of participation and sponsorships from major corporations such as Microsoft, Symantec, AccessData, Senturions Technologies and Sony.

For more information, please visit the NSI website at http://nsi.sit.rp.sg/.

Words by Leong Wai Kit (SIT). (VO) (LH)