UST’s GenCyS 2025 Capture the Flag Finale: A Showcase of Cybersecurity Talent
Mumbai, 16th September 2025: UST, a leading AI and technology transformation solutions company, has successfully concluded its GenCyS 2025 Capture the Flag (CTF) Finale at its Thiruvananthapuram campus. This year’s competition attracted over 1,000 participants from across the nation, including students and working professionals, all eager to demonstrate their cybersecurity skills in a real-world, competitive environment.
A Diverse Range of Challenges
The GenCyS 2025 event featured a wide array of challenging scenarios across multiple domains, including Web, Forensics, Cryptography, OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), Boot to Root, AI Challenges, and Reverse Engineering. These domains were carefully selected to test participants’ technical skills and problem-solving abilities, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of their cybersecurity knowledge.
From the initial pool of over 1,000 entries, the top 50 teams advanced to the final round, held at UST’s Thiruvananthapuram campus. This finale not only served as a platform for showcasing talent but also fostered a spirit of collaboration and innovation among participants.
Celebrating the Winners
The highlight of the event was the announcement of the winners. Team Abu, represented by Abdur Rahman from SRM University, Tamil Nadu, emerged victorious in the GenCyS 2025 CTF competition. The first runner-up position was claimed by Team BirdsAreNotReal, comprising Vishnu AR and Sai Teja from TCS, while Team NullByteNinjas, represented by Mohit Singh Papola and Krrish Bhurani from Poornima University, Rajasthan, secured the second runner-up spot.
The winning team received a cash prize of ₹1.5 lakh, which included ₹1 lakh in cash and ₹50,000 worth of gift hampers, along with a conditional job opportunity at UST. The first runner-up was awarded ₹70,000, while the second runner-up received ₹30,000, recognizing their exceptional performance and problem-solving skills.
Commitment to Nurturing Talent
Sunil Balakrishnan, Chief Values Officer and Global Head of Development Center Operations at UST, emphasized the importance of initiatives like GenCyS in nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. He stated, “With initiatives like GenCyS, UST is committed to creating hands-on opportunities for experimentation, innovation, and continuous learning. The Capture the Flag finale showcased exceptional talent and creativity among young minds and reinforced UST’s dedication to building a collaborative, future-ready cybersecurity ecosystem.”
Muraleekrishnan Nair, Global Head of Cloud Infrastructure Services & Managing Director of CyberProof at UST, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that cybersecurity is central to digital transformation. He noted, “GenCyS 2025 highlights the innovation, technical skills, and problem-solving capabilities of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. We are honored to host a competition that offers authentic problems and supports experiential learning.”
A Global Conference and Industry Collaboration
The finale was held alongside a Global Conference that featured over 20 international speakers and attracted more than 1,000 participants. This event not only showcased UST’s commitment to cybersecurity but also strengthened its brand presence in the ecosystem and fostered collaboration with industry partners.
About UST
Since its inception in 1999, UST has partnered with some of the world’s leading companies to drive impactful transformation. With a focus on technology, AI, and human-centered design, UST delivers AI-driven digital solutions, proprietary platforms, and innovative ecosystems that address core challenges. With over 30,000 employees in more than 30 countries, UST is dedicated to creating lasting positive change for clients, their customers, and communities worldwide.
For more information, visit www.ust.com.
The GenCyS 2025 Capture the Flag Finale not only highlighted the impressive skills of participants but also underscored the importance of fostering a robust cybersecurity talent pool to tackle the challenges of the digital age.