SHREVEPORT – One doesn’t have to be a cyber security expert to know that businesses and organizations of all types and sizes face threats to their enterprise networks -- and the data it secures.
While LSU Shreveport is preparing its students to combat that threat through its six student analyst seats in the university’s Security Operations Center, SOC lead Ched Wiggins Jr. wanted to expand the opportunity to gain experience in this area to all students.
Wiggins is spearheading efforts to launch a cyber security club at LSUS, which includes competing in competitions like Saturday’s Southwest regional qualifier in the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC).
“There’s an outdated way of thinking that says to do everything you can to not be breached,” Wiggins said. “But the new way of thinking acknowledges that breaches are probably going to happen, so do you have a written plan that you’ve practiced in real time?
“CCDC gets students into that proper mental framing by creating simulations that essentially takes 30 days of simulated business information technology operations condensed into a four-hour period in which you score points. After a grace period, the red team (friendly hackers) tries to get into your devices and knock them offline or gain access to different areas.”
Wiggins said a team of students divides and conquers tasks with each team member responsible for different facets of the operation, defense, and incident response.
“Team dynamics are extremely important as each team member fulfills different roles and communicates about what they are seeing,” Wiggins said. “Developing those soft skills are extremely important for students looking for professional roles after graduation.”
LSUS will field a team of five students this year, up from its total of three in its first-ever qualifier in 2025.
Team captain Devesh Sarda is one of two students who competed in the CCDC competition this past season who return for this year’s contest.
“We’ve learned a lot, and we’ve passed this knowledge on to the new people,” said Sarda, a master’s student in computer systems technology. “Being part of the SOC isn’t about just getting hands-on job experience, it’s an opportunity to do things like CCDC.
“We did pretty good last year being one of the last teams to get popped completely. Now we know what procedures we have to follow.”
Trenton Choate, a cyber security senior who is working in the SOC for the first time, said applying classroom knowledge to real-world situations has been eye-opening.
“I’ve already stepped out of my comfort zone by taking the job at the SOC, so I might as well take another step and do something I’m not used to like this CCDC competition,” Choate said. “Sitting in the classroom and studying is nice, but you don’t know it until you get your hands dirty and do it live.
“The soft skills and working as a team is the experience. It doesn’t matter if you can secure one computer, you have to work with your teammates to secure the rest of them or lose all your points.”
Finishing in the top eight will advance LSUS to the Southwest Regional, but the Pilots will be a proverbial David to established programs like the University of Texas and Baylor University.
But steady growth is Wiggins’ goal, growth against CCDC competition but also increased interest from the LSUS student body.
While the cyber security club is still being formed (constructing a constitution with bylaws and procedures), Wiggins and co-chair Dr. Richard Watson (computer science chair) want to expand hands-on opportunities to students of all backgrounds.
The informal club meets monthly for MetaCTF challenges in which students complete progressively harder tasks searching for a particular hidden code.
The group is also planning events in which professionals share their knowledge and insight into an industry that plays a key economic role but is tough to break into without experience.
“Forming an official LSUS club is the best way to expand these opportunities beyond just our SOC students,” Wiggins said. “Just a degree won’t help students set themselves apart as they seek jobs.
“But if you’re an officer in the cyber security club who was part of a team that advanced to CCDC regionals or nationals that regularly publishes a blog and has a home lab, that makes you a much more competitive job candidate in a hiring market that is difficult.”
For more information about cyber security club events, email Wiggins at wigginsjrr08@lsus.edu.
