Overview
The ISACA Cybersecurity Case Competition is an annual academic competition that challenges students to analyze real-world cybersecurity and technology risk scenarios drawn from Harvard Business School case studies. Participants work in teams to develop practical, strategic, and business-informed solutions, presenting their findings to a panel of industry professionals who actively work in cybersecurity, risk, and audit roles.
Over six years, this competition has brought together 600+ students across 100+ teams from 13 institutions, with over $140,000 in scholarships awarded. Students from 30+ different majors have competed, proving that diverse perspectives strengthen cybersecurity thinking. The competition strengthens the pipeline of cybersecurity, risk, and audit professionals by demanding critical thinking, strategic analysis, and communication skills that matter in boardrooms and security operations centers.
Who Can Participate
- Students at any level (high school, undergraduate, graduate, MBA, PhD, etc.) from accredited institutions
- Teams of 4–6 students (with one designated team lead)
- Students from any discipline—cybersecurity, information systems, computer science, business, engineering, and beyond are all encouraged to apply
Competition Structure
The competition consists of a case study release, team submissions, and finalist presentations. Teams analyze a real-world cybersecurity scenario based on Harvard Business School case materials (past cases included SolarWinds SUNBURST, CyberArk, and Equifax) and present strategic, technical, and business-informed recommendations to industry judges. A national panel of expert judges evaluates submissions. Experienced industry mentors are available throughout the competition to guide their analysis.
Awards and Recognition
- Monetary prizes for top-performing teams.
- Certificates and recognition from ISACA.
- Opportunities to network with cybersecurity professionals and industry judges.
- Visibility among academic and industry leaders.
Why Participate
- Apply classroom knowledge to the real cybersecurity scenarios that professionals face.
- Gain experience presenting to industry professionals and build relationships with potential employers.
- Receive mentorship from practitioners in cybersecurity, risk, and audit roles.
- Build teamwork, consulting, and communication skills valued across the industry.
- Strengthen resumes and prepare for careers in cybersecurity, risk, audit, and technology governance.
Looking to participate, volunteer, or sponsor the competition? Reach out to us at academic.relations@isacany.org to express interest and get involved. Your expertise and support can make a real difference for students and the academic community!