In a move to boost interest in the security field, the UK's Cyber Security Challenge has announced the launch of computer security exercises. 

Three exercises are to take place later this year, covering network defense, Web site vulnerability detection and a forensics challenge. 

The three challenges will need a mix of individual and team work. For the Qinetiq Network Defense Competition, teams of three to five players will be sent material describing a problem a business may encounter. They'll have six weeks to work on a fix.

The challenge will have a small networks category for 17 and 18-year-olds and a medium networks category for graduate and postgraduate students. Two teams from each category will be picked for a face-to-face network defense exercise at Qinetiq's headquarters in Farnborough, England.

A second challenge, the SANS Institute and Sophos treasure hunt, will test participants' knowledge of Web site vulnerabilities. The top six participants will advance to another face-to-face competition designed by Sophos.

The third test is the DC3 Forensics Challenge, a UK version of the US Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) Digital Forensics Challenge, Baker said. At least 22 teams will undertake 25 challenges covering digital forensics.

The top candidates and teams from the three challenges will be invited to attend the Cyber Security U.K. Masterclass to be held in January 2011. One participant will be named the U.K.'s Cyber Security Champion, with potential prizes including tuition reimbursement, training and internships with companies. Participants in the three challenges will be judged on their technical acumen and communication skills.