Competing in an international cyber security competition, a team from Defence's Security Operations Centre (DSOC) demonstrated the expertise, teamwork and problem-solving skills that underpin Defence's cyber security.
The Splunk Boss of the SOC (BoTS) 2026 competition brought together 605 participants from 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific region to tackle a simulated cyber attack using Splunk platforms.
The scenario was modelled on the types of cyber security incidents organisations may encounter in real-world environments.
DSOC team leader Flying Officer Kiara Nand said participation in competitions such as BoTS played an important role in strengthening Defence's cyber security capability.
"Competitions like BoTS give participants the opportunity to practise their skills during a simulated end-to-end cyber incident in a compressed timeframe," Flying Officer Nand said.
"They provide a realistic environment for members to exercise their cyber security drills and apply their knowledge in a practical setting.
"These experiences help build skills and confidence that can be applied directly in their Defence roles."
Featuring first-time participants and returning competitors, the teams investigated an unfolding cyber incident scenario, tracing it from the earliest warning signs through to its final impact.
As they worked through the scenario, participants applied data analysis and critical thinking skills to answer a series of increasingly challenging questions, with points awarded for accuracy and speed.
Defence was represented by 55 personnel participating across 22 teams. Among the top performers was the DSOC Forensics team, which placed 21st overall.
