Defensive operations / February 2026
Keep the services running.
Defending a mixed Linux and Windows environment while balancing service availability, system hardening, and business injects.
THE EXPERIENCE
SWIFT · Red vs. Blue
THE OUTCOME
Hands-on defensive operations
The challenge
Defend five machines against an active red team while keeping scored services available. The competition was hosted by SWIFT at Cal Poly Pomona.
Systems and dependencies
The environment included Windows Server 2022, two Debian 12 systems, and Hannah Montana Linux. DNS, a Flask application, Active Directory, and a WordPress service created dependencies that needed careful attention.
The work
Our team reviewed SSH access and configuration, maintained DNS, managed Windows users and permissions, and worked through service hardening. Written business injects ran alongside the technical defense work.
What changed my thinking
Hardening is an ongoing practice. Understanding service dependencies before making changes, coordinating with teammates, and responding quickly all matter when availability is part of the score.
Read the full account ↗This overview draws on my documented competition experience. The original entry includes the full context and reflections.
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