OT Cybersecurity Hackathon
OT Cybersecurity Hackathon
An initiative by the Operational Technology Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (OTC-CoE) in collaboration with Aramco
About the OTC-CoE
The Operational Technology Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (OTC-CoE) was established by the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) and Aramco in 2023 to catalyze collaboration to address increasingly complex OT cybersecurity challenges. Under the leadership of GCF and Aramco, alongside a diverse and growing membership spanning the entire OT cybersecurity value chain, the OTC-CoE serves as a platform for advancing the maturity of global OT cybersecurity through capability development, standardization and policy advocacy, research and innovation, and knowledge exchange.
About OT Cybersecurity Hackathon
Today, OT cybersecurity is one of the most important emerging fields, protecting the industrial control systems that operate our critical infrastructure, including the production and distribution of energy, water, and electricity. A cyber threat to critical infrastructure can disrupt industries, essential services, and the daily lives of millions of people.
The OT Cybersecurity Hackathon, led by the Operational Technology Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (OTC-CoE), in collaboration with Aramco, is an industry-wide competition aimed at driving collaboration across sectors to develop innovative ideas and strategies for safeguarding critical infrastructure.
Over four days, participants will collaborate to solve real-world OT security challenges, working in teams to develop innovative ideas and strategies:
- Up to 40 teams of five members each will take on one of four challenge tracks – Obsolescence, Visibility, OT System Diversity, or Operational Constraints
- Participants will test their expertise against operational scenarios and collaborate with peers, supported by mentors with global subject-matter experience, before presenting their ideas to a panel of industry judges
Who can participate
Participation is open to professionals or students across the OT industry, including employees from oil, gas, and utilities operators and vendors worldwide, experts from cybersecurity or related consulting firms, as well as students, researchers, and faculty from universities and research institutions.
Please note that participants may register as teams or as individuals who will then be assigned to teams upon arrival based on skills and experience.
Initiative Objectives
- Proactive Risk Mitigation and Technical Validation.
- Enhancing Regulatory Compliance and Governance.
- Cultivating Critical Infrastructure Talent.
Benefits of Participating
- Prizes totalling SAR 200,000.
- Develop practical solutions to OT cybersecurity challenges affecting critical infrastructure.
- Gain access to expert mentorship to develop practical security solutions.
Registeration
Registration Deadline: 23 Augest 2026
For questions or more information FAQs, please email ot-coe@gcforum.org
