📖 Note: this article explains how participants on the platform (who are part of teams) can navigate their Team Dashboards. Team Dashboards are a feature that were rolled out to team profiles as of January 2024.
What is a Team Dashboard?
Team Dashboards show a view of a team's collective skill and performance data. Each team on the platform has its own Team Dashboard, which can be navigated to by clicking Team Dashboard once you have opened a team's profile from the My Teams page. For more information on how to view a team's profile, click here.
A team's Team Dashboard contains the following sections:
The team's Cyber Skills Cortex [1]
The Team Scorecard [2]
Your Member Scorecard [3]
The team's Performance Triangle [4]
The team's Competitions [5]
Note that the Team Dashboard tab is visible to all members within a team.
Reading your Team's Cyber Skills Cortex
The Cyber Skills Cortex (in the context of a team) is a diagram which maps out the cyber skills members of a team have demonstrated across the team's assigned competitions, against FifthDomain's Cynaptic Skills Adaptor Framework.
What is the Cynaptic Skills Adaptor Framework?
The Cynaptic Skills Adaptor Framework maps all of the challenges on the FifthDomain platform to the following three components - Professional Specialties, Skills, and Proficiency levels. When a challenge mapped to a certain Professional Specialty and Skill is solved by a member of a team (during a team-based competition), that team's Cyber Skills Cortex diagram will showcase that the team has demonstrated that Professional Specialty and Skill (at the set Proficiency level of the challenge).
What are Professional Specialties?
Professional Specialties are grouping units within the Cynaptic Skills Adaptor Framework which group all cyber skills demonstrable on the platform to overarching high-level cyber work specialisations.
Each challenge on the platform is mapped to one of six Professional Specialties. A single challenge cannot be mapped to multiple Professional Specialties.
📖 A quick overview of each of the six Professional Specialties is below:
Intelligence: Cyber work which relates to the collection of information on the open or dark web outside of one's own network. This can include removing friendly information as an Operational Security (OPSEC) measure.
Penetration: Cyber work which relates to gaining unauthorised access and ability to make modification to a system.
Protection: Cyber work which relates to hardening one's own systems, identifying system configurations that protect from threats, and finding vulnerabilities.
Detection: Cyber work which relates to searching systems, sources, and information points to detect events, and identifying and moderating a comprehensive list of relevant observables.
Engineering: Cyber work which relates to building Security Operation Centre (SOC) technologies in order to make technologies better and faster.
Investigation: Cyber work which relates to the analysis of artefacts to derive Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), and reveal a full behaviours and capabilities.
What are Skills?
Each Professional Specialty is made up of Skills. Skills, as per the Cynaptic Skills Adaptor Framework, are a more granular set of abilities and knowledge related to a more specific area within cybersecurity. For example, the Log Analysis (LA) Skill is mapped to the Detection Professional Specialty.
There are currently approximately 30 Skills demonstrable on the platform, each mapped to one of the six Professional Specialties in the Cynaptic Skills Adaptor Framework.
Each challenge on the platform can be mapped to multiple Skills within the single Professional Specialty that it is mapped to. As an example, a Detection challenge may be mapped to the Log Analysis (LA) and Traffic Analysis (TA) Skills. However, it cannot be mapped to Skills outside of the Detection Professional Specialty.
What are Proficiency Levels?
Proficiency levels, per the Cynaptic Skills Adaptor Framework, determine one's level of ability in a particular Skill on the platform. There are five proficiency levels that participants can demonstrate on the platform. These are modelled from the Dreyfus Model of Skills Acquisition, and are described below:
📖 A quick overview of the Cynaptic Skills Adaptor Framework Proficiency Levels (drawn from the Dreyfus Model of Skills Acquisition):
Level 1 (Novice): Demonstration of a basic but incomplete understanding of a concept, and a mechanistic approach requiring supervision for relevant work completion.
Level 2 (Advanced Beginner): Demonstration of a working understanding of a concept, and a perception of required actions as steps. Those at this level can an complete simpler tasks independently.
Level 3 (Competent): Demonstration of a good working and background understanding of a concept, with contextual awareness. Those at this level are capable of independent work to an acceptable standard.
Level 4 (Proficient): Demonstration of deep understanding of a concept, complete with a holistic view of required actions. Those at this level consistently achieve high standards when performing relevant work.
Level 5 (Expert): Demonstration of authoritative and/or deep holistic understanding of a concept, complete with intuitive handling of routine relevant matters. Those at this level excel effortlessly when performing relevant work.
Each challenge on the platform is assigned one of the five proficiency levels within the Cynaptic Skills Adaptor Framework. Solving a challenge which tests a particular Skill at a particular proficiency level indicates that the solver is able to demonstrate that Skill at that proficiency level.
What is the Cyber Skills Cortex?
The Cyber Skills Cortex is a cyber skills map that conceptually mimics the structure and shape of the human brain. A team's Cyber Skills Cortex shows the Skills that members of the team have demonstrated, which Professional Specialties the team aligns to, as well as which proficiency levels the team has demonstrated Skills in.
The Cyber Skills Cortex is made up of six sections, with one section for each of the six Professional Specialties within the Cynaptic Adaptor Skills Framework.
Within the Cortex, each Professional Specialty has been subtly grouped in pairs according to similar functions.
The two Professional Specialties on the upper section [1] of the Cortex (Intelligence and Penetration) are grouped together on the Cortex as they both relate to interacting with external devices, systems, information sources to achieve an outcome.
The two Professional Specialties on the middle section [2] of the Cortex (Protection and Detection) are grouped together on the Cortex as they both relate to systems administration and operational work.
Finally, the two Professional Specialties on the lower section [3] of the Cortex (Engineering and Investigation) are grouped together on the Cortex as they both relate to assembling and disassembling systems, artefacts, and their accompanying information.
Each Professional Specialty section on the Cortex is made up of its relevant Skills. Each Skill is allocated a dedicated row on the Cortex (each row contains five squares), with one square for each of the five proficiency levels demonstrable for each Skill (these squares are called Skill-Proficiency squares). The row of numbers at the top of the Cortex diagram represent the five proficiency levels.
There are two sets of proficiency levels on the Cortex, each increasing in level from the central spine of the Cortex, and dividing the Cortex into a left and right section. The set of proficiency level numbers on the left of the Cortex span from the centre to the left, and the set on the right span from the centre to the right.
How is the data in my team's Cyber Skills Cortex useful?
The data shown within your team's Cyber Skills Cortex may be useful to you and your team members for the following:
Skillset Visualisation: The Cyber Skills Cortex provides a visual representation of a team's collective skills. This helps in understanding the current skill levels and proficiencies within the team, offering a clear picture of strengths and weaknesses.
Enhancing Team Collaboration: By having a clear understanding of each other’s skills and proficiencies, team members can collaborate more effectively in competitions, leveraging each other's strengths and supporting development areas.
Identifying Suitable Member Additions: By analysing their Cortex, teams can identify skills that are lacking or underrepresented amongst members. This may be helpful to Team Managers who may be looking to add members to their teams.
Monitoring Progress and Development: Over time, a team's Cyber Skills Cortex can be used to track the collective development of skills among team members. This monitoring may allow for the evaluation of the effectiveness of any training programs and events team members may be participating in.
Organisational Benchmarking: For teams made up of members that are part of the same organisation, the Cortex can also be used to benchmark a team’s capabilities against industry standards. This can help in assessing a team's readiness to handle complex cyber challenges.
How do I read my team's Cyber Skills Cortex?
Your team's Cyber Skills Cortex shows a current snapshot of all the cyber skills you and your team members have demonstrated across the competitions your team has participated in on the platform.
💡 Remember: only the team-based competitions that your team members have participated in as part of the team will count as part of the skill and performance data of the team. Any skill and performance data displayed/collected from outside the context of the team being viewed will not show up.
For example, "Jim" is part of "Team A" and "Team B". Only the skill and performance data "Jim" demonstrated in "Team A"'s competitions will count for "Team A"'s Team Dashboard view.
The skill and performance data he demonstrated as part of "Team B"'s competitions will not count or show up in the "Team A" Team Dashboard view.
Any data generated by Jim through his participation in competitions he did outside from the context of "Team A" will not show up in "Team A"'s Team Dashboard.
Additionally, only current team members' skill and performance data will show up in your Team Dashboard. Any skill and performance data of previous team members who have been removed or who have left the team will not show up.
Understanding Blank vs Filled Skill-Proficiency Squares
All Skill-Proficiency squares that your team members have not demonstrated a relevant challenge solve in will be blank on your team's Cortex diagram.
Once a challenge has been solved, the Skill-Proficiency square relevant to that challenge should be filled in with a number and colour.
The number in a Skill-Proficiency square shows how many unique challenges (mapped to that specific Skill-Proficiency square) your team members have solved.
For instance, if your team members have solved 6 unique challenges mapped to the Log Analysis (LA) Skill at the Level 1 (Novice) proficiency level, your team's Skill-Proficiency square for Level 1 (Novice) Log Analysis (LA) will contain the number 6 inside it.
Note that solving the same challenge across different events will only count as one solve in the challenge's relevant Skill-Proficiency square (each unique challenge will only show up in the count once).
The intensity of the colour in a Skill-Proficiency square is also determined by the number of relevant challenge solves demonstrated. The darker the colour of a square, the more unique challenge solves relevant to that square you and your team members have solved. Each time a challenge is solved, its relevant Skill-Proficiency square will darken by one shade.
Activating Tooltips over Skill-Proficiency Squares
To view more details about a specific Skill-Proficiency square, simply hover your mouse over it. Upon hover over a square you will be able to see the following details:
Full Skill Name
Proficiency Level
Total Solves
Last Solve
In the example below, hovering over the square [1] for SOC Tech Deployment (TD) at the Level 1 (Novice) level activates a tooltip [2] which spells out the full name of the Skill (i.e. expanding from the acronym "TD"), the proficiency level of the square being viewed, the total number of solves achieved for Level 1 SOC Tech Deployment challenges, and the date, month, and year of the most recent relevant solve.
Understanding Links between Proficiency Levels for a Skill
It is important to note that demonstrating a Skill at a higher proficiency level is considered in the logic of the Cortex diagram to also contribute to one's ability to demonstrate the same Skill at lower proficiency levels.
Therefore, note that solving a challenge at a proficiency level higher than Level 1 (Novice) will also contribute to increased number and colour shade intensity of relevant mapped Skills at lower proficiency levels.
For instance, solving a Level 3 (Competent) Intrusion Detection (ID) challenge will lead to the Level 3 (Competent) Intrusion Detection (ID) Skill-Proficiency square deepening by a shade, and the number within the square increasing by one. Solving this challenge will also cause the Level 1 (Novice) and Level 2 (Advanced Beginner) Intrusion Detection (ID) Skill-Proficiency squares to also deepen and have their numbers increase.
Due to this logic, Skill-Proficiency squares will always be visually displayed as darker from the central spine of the Cortex, to lighter towards the left and right sides.
Understanding Skills Degradation over Time
Skills naturally degrade over time without consistent application and/or practice - the logic of the Cyber Skills Cortex takes this into account. Skill-Proficiency squares will lose their number value and colour intensity after a certain period of time. The number of months until degradation of a Skill-Proficiency square occurs depends on proficiency.
📖 Note: The list below outlines how Skill-Proficiency square number value and colour shades will lose their intensity according to their proficiency levels:
Level 1 (Novice) squares will lose their number value by 1, and colour intensity by 1 shade every 2 months.
Level 2 (Advanced Beginner) squares will lose their number value by 1, and colour intensity by 1 shade every 3 months.
Level 3 (Competent) squares will lose their number value by 1, and colour intensity by 1 shade every 5 months.
Level 4 (Proficient) squares will lose their number value by 1, and colour intensity by 1 shade every 8 months.
Level 5 (Expert) squares will lose their number value by 1, and colour intensity by 1 shade every 13 months.
As an example, if a user has solved 5 x Log Analysis (LA) challenges at Level 5 (Expert), their Level 5 LA Skill-Proficiency square would have the number 5 inside it, and the square would be five shades deep. If the user had solved 2 of these challenges 13 months ago, and 3 of them less than 13 months ago, then, when the user next logs in (assuming they have not solved any further Level 5 LA challenges), their Level 5 LA Skill-Proficiency square would have the number 3 inside of it, and the square would be 3 shades deep.
This is because 13 months have passed since the user last solved the first 2 Level 5 LA challenges, so skills degradation will have taken place. After this degradation occurs, the only way for the user to go back to having the number 5 in their Level 5 LA square (as well as having the square be 5 shades deep) is for them to solve an additional 2 x LA Level 5 challenges, keeping skills degradation at bay.
Understanding your Team's Most Aligned Specialty and Top Skills Demonstrated
Next to your Cyber Skills Cortex diagram, you will be able to view your team's Most Aligned Specialty [1], and your Top Skills Demonstrated [2].
Your team's Most Aligned Specialty is calculated using a formula which takes into account the proficiency levels of challenges your team members have solved within a Professional Specialty, as well as the number of unique Skills demonstrated (via relevant challenge solves) within each Professional Specialty.
Your team's Top Skills Demonstrated are the Skills in which team members have demonstrated the highest number of relevant solves across the proficiency levels.
Reading your Team Scorecard
Your Team Score card shows a quick view of your team's FifthDomain [1], Success [2], Efficiency [3], and Speed [4] scores.
Definitions of these scores are given below:
💡 Team Scorecard - Score Definitions:
FifthDomain Score: The FifthDomain score (0-100) is a combined weighted sum of your team members' average Success, Efficiency, and Speed scores, with Success carrying the highest weightage.
Efficiency Score: Your team's Efficiency Score (0-100) measures your team members' ability to score points in challenges while minimising the number of attempts made.
Success Score: Your team's Success Score (0-100) measures your team members' ability to capture flags, taking into account points earned for solved challenges relative to overall points available.
Speed Score: Your team's Speed Score (0-100) reflects your team members' quickness in completing challenges within the allocated time for an event.
Only performance metrics of current members of your team count toward your Team Scorecard - metrics for any previous members will not count.
Reading Your Member Scorecard
Your Team Score card shows a quick view of your FifthDomain [1], Success [2], Efficiency [3], and Speed [4] scores from within the context of the team.
Definitions of these scores are given below:
💡 Your Member Scorecard - Score Definitions:
FifthDomain Score: Your FifthDomain score (0-100) as a team member is a combined weighted sum of your average Success, Efficiency, and Speed scores (within the context of the team), with Success carrying the highest weightage.
Efficiency Score: Your Efficiency Score (0-100) as a team member measures your ability to score points in challenges while minimising the number of attempts made (within the context of the team's events).
Success Score: Your Success Score (0-100) as a team member measures your ability to capture flags, taking into account points earned for solved challenges relative to overall points available (within the context of the team's events).
Speed Score: Your Speed Score (0-100) as a team member reflects your quickness in completing challenges within the allocated time for an event (within the context of the team's events).
The scores in Your Member Scorecard for a team will only count your performance data generated in that team's competitions. Any performance data generated from outside the context of the team will not count toward your scores.
This means that the performance scores in Your Member Scorecard may vary significantly between teams, and may look very different to your performance metrics on your Participant Home Page.
Interacting with your Team's Performance Triangle
The Performance Triangle (within the context of a team) is a diagram which visually maps out your team's Success, Efficiency, and Speed scores, and your individual Success, Efficiency, and Speed scores within the context of the team.
The Success, Efficiency, and Speed scores generated from the performance you and your team members have demonstrated in your team's competitions are each mapped to one of your team Performance Triangle's three corners. Your team's Performance Triangle diagram will have two different coloured triangles. The navy blue triangle shows your performance metrics as a member of the team, and the light grey triangle shows the average scores of all current members within the team.
In the example below, the Performance Triangle shows a Team Average Success Score of 65, a Team Average Efficiency Score of 64, and a Team Average Speed Score of 67. In the example, the individual team member viewing their team's Performance Triangle has a Success Score of 70, an Efficiency Score of 82, and a Speed Score of 72 (within the context of the team).
Note that the scores in your Performance Triangle will be the same as the scores on your Team Scorecard, and Your Member Scorecard.
Interacting with your Team's Competitions
The Team Competitions section on your Team Dashboard contains a list of all competitions that your team has been invited to by different organisations across the platform, sorted in different tabs according to whether they are Current [1] (i.e. competitions that are currently in progress), Upcoming [2] (i.e. competitions that your team has been assigned but have not started yet), or Previous [3] (i.e. competitions that have ended). You can toggle between these tabs as required, and type in the search bar [4] to find specific competitions quickly.
For each competition, you will be able to see the following details:
The competition name [1]
The competition organiser name [2]
A progress meter [3]
Progress is based on the number of points achieved out of total number of points available - e.g. 12/1200 Points.
A status chip and timestamp [4]
An Enter button [5]
Each event will have an Enter button, but note that you will not be able to Enter competitions that have not started yet.
📖 Note: as of January 2024, your team's competitions are accessible on your Team Dashboard tab. Prior to January 2024, your team competitions were located with team management functions.