Capture the Flag: What you should know about cybersecurity CTFs

Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions are surging in popularity among cybersecurity enthusiasts, students, and professionals alike. They’re a hands-on way to deepen expertise, connect with peers, and explore real-world scenarios in a simulated environment.

But what exactly is a CTF—and why should it be on your radar?

What is Capture the Flag?

In cybersecurity, a Capture the Flag (CTF) competition is an exercise in which participants, either individually or as part of a team, are challenged to find and exploit vulnerabilities in a system to capture a "flag" or piece of information.

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CTFs typically make use of a simulated environment, such as a website, network, or system with predetermined vulnerabilities. Participants are tasked with capturing a flag—quite literally a message that says "FLAG{YOU_FOUND_ME}”—that’s hidden behind a cybersecurity-based obstacle.

Once the participant obtains the flag, they submit it and receive points. The more complex the challenge, the higher the score. Whether it's a lone participant or a coordinated team, the highest total score wins.

Simply, CTFs gamify cybersecurity.

CTF formats: How the challenges are structured

CTF challenges come in many formats but are all designed to simulate real-world scenarios that cybersecurity professionals could face while on the job.

One of the most common types of CTF is the jeopardy-style competition. In this format, teams are presented with numerous challenges or questions, each assigned a point value. The teams compete to solve these challenges quickly and accurately to earn points. The team with the highest score at the end of the competition is declared the winner.

Some CTF challenges focus on reverse engineering, where participants are given a piece of malware or other software to analyze and uncover vulnerabilities. Competitions designed to test the ability to hack and gain access to a server may hide the flag in a file called flag.txt, in a location only accessible if the participant gains unauthorized access.

There's also the attack-and-defense competition. In these competitions, teams must defend their own systems while simultaneously attempting to penetrate their opponent's networks to retrieve flags.

The value of CTFs in cybersecurity

Capture the flag cybersecurity competitions offer more than just technical exercises—they’re immersive experiences that build real-world capability. Here’s why they stand out:

• Realistic, hands-on practice: CTFs simulate live environments where participants must uncover vulnerabilities, exploit weaknesses, and defend systems. It’s one of the most effective ways to gain experience without the stakes of a production environment.

• Sharpened problem-solving skills: Each challenge is a complex puzzle. Participants must think critically, pivot strategies, and apply creative approaches to succeed—skills that directly translate to the field.

• Exposure to emerging threats: CTF scenarios often mirror current trends in cybercrime, from supply chain attacks to novel malware strains. This keeps participants engaged with the evolving threat landscape.

• Professional networking: CTFs attract a wide range of participants, from students to seasoned analysts, making the competitions a gateway to the cybersecurity community. They're a place to learn from others, share tactics, and grow your reputation.
• Career development: Recruiters increasingly view CTFs as credible indicators of skill. Some competitions even lead directly to internships, interviews, or full-time roles.
• Engagement through gamification: These events are challenging—but also fun. They provide a pressure-free space to test techniques, try new tools, and stay sharp.

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Who organizes CTF competitions?

CTFs are run by a mix of private organizations, academic institutions, and industry conferences. They’re a mainstay at events like DEFCON, a popular hacking convention held annually in Las Vegas. According to their website, CTFs have been flagship competitions since 1996.

Educational initiatives are also embracing CTFs. One standout example is CyberTitan, a Canadian competition run by the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC). Designed for middle and secondary school students, CyberTitan introduces real-world cyber challenges through simulated exercises.

The challenges of running a CTF

Running a CTF has traditionally required significant infrastructure: hosting servers, setting up challenges, and ensuring participants have the right tools. Participants often need “hacker” laptops preloaded with utilities—creating logistical friction.

To combat the infrastructure problem, some organizations are turning to cyber ranges—simulation-based security training platforms—to run their CTFs. With a cyber range, you can quickly provision infrastructure for the challenge, with all the tools the participants may need already installed. Plus, because the CTF occurs on a completely simulated network, participants can experiment and compete without risk.

What’s more, a cyber range allows for additional useful functionality such as a scoreboard, countdown timer, and a message board that streams activity as teams get flags.

Using a cyber range for the CTF also drastically lowers the barrier of entry. Instead of having to show up with an elaborate hacker laptop, anyone with a computer and internet connection can log in to the cyber range platform and get started.

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In fact, ICTC uses Field Effect Cyber Range for its CyberTitan initiative. This year’s competition is a maple syrup factory that has been compromised. Students must respond to an in-progress cyberattack while keeping operations running at the factory.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Field Effect and help transform training and learning in cybersecurity,” Steve shares. “If we can draw just 5-10% of the participating kids that are interested in learning more, we can increase the talent pool significantly.”

Read the full case study for more information about how ICTC uses the Field Effect Cyber Range.