Press Release

WOW Iron Chef of Information Security Challenge at HostingCon 2006 - Call for Participation!

Sponsored by the World Organization of Webmasters (WOW), HostingCon 2006

Folsom, CA – May 20, 2006: The World Organization of Webmasters and HostingCon 2006 have issued a call for participation regarding WOW’s Iron Chef of Information Security Contest for industry professionals, to be held on July 18, 2006 on the exhibit floor of the HostingCon 2006 Conference and Tradeshow taking place July 17-19, 2006 at The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Calling all Web Administrators, Security Specialist and Network Engineers!

This event will challenge Web Administrators and Network and Security Specialists to evaluate and fix the security vulnerabilities present in an Internet DMZ architecture. The event will occur live during the HostingCon 2006 conference and give the audience a first-hand look at how security professionals perform their jobs. The competition will be a head-to-head format with each team competing against the clock and the other teams.

Who Will Reign Supreme?

Contestants will submit two person teams of Security and/or Network Engineers who will identify and fix security problems in a pre-configured network and server architecture. The event will last a full day with the following stages and schedule:

George A. Roberts IV HostingCon2006 Conference Chair said, “This is a one of a kind event that will allow the best and brightest in infrastructure security to show off their talents,” said George A. Roberts IV, Executive Director of HostingCon 2006. “We’re extremely pleased to be able to partner with WOW to bring the Iron Chef of Information Security to HostingCon 2006.”

Making the Grade

The teams must have no knowledge of the exact architecture used prior to the contest. The DMZ architecture will have known security vulnerabilities. Each of the vulnerabilities will be assigned a point value based on the degree of difficulty. Teams will register vulnerabilities as they find them with the judges, and a running point total will be displayed showing each teams progress. A bonus will be awarded to the team that finds each unique vulnerability first. However, technical points alone will not determine a winner. Participants will be required to demonstrate their findings and their communications skills in front of an audience consisting of a panel of esteem judges hand selected by WOW, the press and an audience of conference and exhibit attendees.

To be considered as a contestant, participating judge or event sponsors applications are now being accepted. For a complete list of details and past WOW Iron Chef events visit the WOW call for participation website located at TBD.

About WOW

World Organization of Webmasters is a non-profit professional association dedicated to the support of individuals and organizations who create, manage or market web sites. WOW provides education as well as certification, technical, employment and member advantage services to thousands of aspiring and practicing web professionals worldwide.

About HostingCon 2006

HostingCon is the definitive conference and tradeshow for the hosting industry. HostingCon 2006 will be held July 17-19, 2006 at The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hosting professionals around the world gather to learn more about the industry, network with their peers and vendors, and help grow their business. HostingCon is produced by Interjuncture Corp., an Aurora, Illinois-based technology conference producer.

The HostingCon 2006 website is located at http://www.hostingcon.com/ and is the best source for the most up to date information on the conference program, exhibitors, and special events.

Press Contacts:
Bill Cullifer
Executive Director
World Organization of Webmasters
bill@joinwow.org
+1 916 989-2933
George A. Roberts IV
Executive Director
HostingCon 2006
groberts@hostingcon.com
+1 630 364-4100 x801