Security Innovation Team Wins First Place in DEF CON Red Alert Industrial Control Systems Capture the Flag Contest

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Security Innovation, a leader in software security solutions, today announced that its engineers secured first place in the prestigious Red Alert Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Capture the Flag (CTF) competition at DEF CON 32. Organized by Korean cybersecurity firm Red Alert, this competition is a cornerstone event for security professionals focused on ICS and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.

The team, under the name “Tesuji,” and made up of Security Innovation engineers and alumni, built on last year’s success where they achieved second place, ultimately rising to the top this year. The ICS CTF event was designated by DEF CON organizers as a Black Badge event due to its unique challenges, highlighting its importance to the cybersecurity community. The Tesuji team’s victory is a testament to Security Innovation's dedication to staying ahead of emerging threats and maintaining a cutting-edge approach to cybersecurity.

“I am incredibly proud of our team’s achievement at DEF CON,” said Zak Dehlawi, Head of Security Engineering & CTO at Security Innovation. “The realistic challenges presented in the ICS CTF closely mirror the complex environments we secure every day and our participation in events like these is valuable in showcasing our skills and demonstrating the level of expertise that we bring to our clients.”

Security Innovation has long been at the forefront of ICS and IoT security. With a dedicated Embedded and IoT Security Center of Excellence (CoE), the company conducts ongoing research into the security of embedded devices, device firmware, connected systems, and deployment platforms across a broad range of industry verticals—including medical, petroleum, agriculture, retail, critical infrastructure and consumer electronics.

“Competitions like the Red Alert ICS CTF are essential in advancing the security skills necessary to defend against increasingly sophisticated attacks,” said Geoff Vaughan, Director of Security Engineering and leader of Security Innovation’s IoT Center of Excellence. “We are grateful to Red Alert for their dedication to building a comprehensive collection of realistic challenges that elevate the cybersecurity community and bring awareness to the risks faced by critical systems we depend on.”

Security Innovation prioritizes staying at the forefront of cybersecurity, and DEF CON is a crucial part of that commitment. Each year, more than fifty of the company’s engineers actively participate in DEF CON, not only attending but also volunteering in key roles, such as supporting villages and serving as conference staff (Goons). This involvement contributes to keeping our team's skills sharp and at the cutting edge. Over the years, Security Innovation has had the honor of showcasing research initiatives via conference presentations and have been a proud host of numerous capture-the-flag DEF CON villages, further reinforcing our dedication to continuous learning and innovation.

Winning the Red Alert Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Capture the Flag (CTF) competition comes at a pivotal time for Security Innovation, which recently became a division of Bureau Veritas [BVI]. Bureau Veritas can now enhance its certification services with Security Innovation's deep expertise in IoT/ICS security, providing robust security solutions to a wide array of clients in North America and beyond.

About Security Innovation

Security Innovation is a leader in software security, providing comprehensive assessment solutions to secure software from design to deployment, across all environments, including web, cloud, IoT, and mobile. With a commitment to delivering precise and actionable security with zero false positives, we empower organizations to protect their products confidently and efficiently. Leveraging decades of expertise and as part of Bureau Veritas, a global leader in Testing, Inspection, and Certification, we seamlessly integrate world-class security into development processes, safeguarding the way companies build and deliver products.

Visit securityinnovation.com to learn how we can help secure your software and protect your business.