Registration for SANS Cyber Quest CTF, a free virtual cybersecurity competition developed with RBC, closes on October 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. The 72-hour event runs October 22–25 and targets university students and early-career cybersecurity professionals in Greater Vancouver, Canada.
What Participants Will Practice
SANS announced the competition on September 22. Its launch release describes challenges involving threat detection, SOC operations and incident response, with registration limited to the first 500 participants.
A capture-the-flag competition uses practical puzzles and investigations to test cybersecurity skills. SANS describes Cyber Quest as a learning environment requiring no prior experience, with participants working through challenges on their own schedule during the competition window.
Who This Is For
The event is aimed at emerging cybersecurity talent in Greater Vancouver. Participants must be at least 18. The practice topics may interest learners exploring these roles:
- SOC Analyst — investigating alerts and recognizing signs of malicious activity.
- Incident Responder — examining evidence and understanding how incidents unfold.
Prize eligibility has additional requirements. SANS specifies a valid British Columbia post-secondary institution email, used consistently for the webinar and Ranges.io registrations. Potential top finishers must also complete the separate RBC form provided after the competition.
How to Register
Start with the official orientation webinar page. Register through your SANS account, then follow the dashboard prompt to register separately on Ranges.io. The orientation is scheduled for October 22, from 10–11 a.m. Pacific Time.
The competition starts at 11 a.m. Pacific on October 22 and ends at the same time on October 25. Check the registration page for current availability; the published 500-person cap does not confirm that places remain.
Training Awards
SANS lists Skills Quest access for the top 50 eligible finishers and SEC275 training with a GFACT exam attempt for the top 15. Leaderboard placement alone does not establish entitlement: SANS verifies performance and eligibility before allocating awards. Review the current rules and access conditions before entering.
