The Legend of Standoff 14
The Standoff Cyberbattle has its own lore, one that immerses participants in the story and spirit of the upcoming competition.
Below you can learn more about the virtual state as the battleground, with its key development trends and indicators. Sharp-eyed attackers might even find hints for triggering critical events.
Below you can learn more about the virtual state as the battleground, with its key development trends and indicators. Sharp-eyed attackers might even find hints for triggering critical events.
What you'll find in this document
The Legend of Standoff 14
In 2016, State F emerged in the international virtual arena, and it’s been expanding its influence ever since. Today, the country is experiencing rapid growth in industries such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and banking. One of the most advanced sectors in State F is Information technologies, which made a significant leap forward in 2024.
As State F develops, more and more hackers turn their attention to its infrastructure and try different ways to breach company systems within the country. We’ll discover just how successful their attacks are at Standoff 14.
As State F develops, more and more hackers turn their attention to its infrastructure and try different ways to breach company systems within the country. We’ll discover just how successful their attacks are at Standoff 14.
State F
Geography
State F is a continental nation with a long coastline. Its primary waterway, the Off River, springs from the Magnetic Mountains in the south of the country. State F is rich with natural resources: it has vast deposits of oil, gas, coal, and iron and uranium ore.
Demographics
State F is a multinational country. The official language is Russian.
Each year, the population increases by approximately 15 percent.
Most of the country's inhabitants live in the City, the capital of State F.
The vast majority of citizens have completed graduate- or postgraduate-level education.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in IT and cybersecurity among adults.
Foreign policy
State F's foreign policy follows the principles of good neighborly relations. However, its leadership doesn't underestimate the importance of cyberdefense. While other countries seem to be hesitant to implement some innovative cybersecurity practices, State F is determined to enhance its cyber resilience, achieve technological advancement, and strengthen its position on the world stage.
The primary threat comes from hackers who, year after year, refine their techniques to take control of State F's critical infrastructure enterprises.
The primary threat comes from hackers who, year after year, refine their techniques to take control of State F's critical infrastructure enterprises.
Economy and industries
Several economic sectors are rapidly developing in State F.
Key organizations: thermal (CHP), hydroelectric, and solar power plants.
Lines of business: generation, transmission (main lines, substations, a dispatch control center), and distribution of electricity.
Lines of business: generation, transmission (main lines, substations, a dispatch control center), and distribution of electricity.
The power industry of State F comprises electricity generation, transmission, and distribution facilities.
State F has built a number of combined heat and power (CHP) plants, which supply heating to the population and account for approximately 70 percent of the generating capacity.
In line with global trends for eco-friendly technologies and use of renewables, a hydroelectric power plant has been constructed on the Off River; it generates almost 20 percent of the country's energy supplies.
As part of implementing distributed energy resources, State F has commissioned several solar power plants.
Substation No. 1
Substation No. 2
All energy generated at the power plants is distributed to two substations, which then transmit electricity through power lines.
Power lines
Cities, towns, and villages
Factories and enterprises
Transport and telecommunication systems
Export of electricity via main transmission lines
CHP plants
Hydroelectric power plant
Solar power plants
The sales company supplies electricity to the population and keeps records of energy consumption.
Smart meters have been installed nationwide, allowing the company to do the following:
Thanks to the well-developed electricity network, 99 percent of the country's population has electricity. Approximately 20 percent of the generated electricity is consumed domestically, while the remaining 80 percent is exported to neighboring countries.
The energy system is managed from the dispatch control center. If something happens to all the substations, it won't just be the energy sector that suffers, but also the industries that depend on it.
Smart meters have been installed nationwide, allowing the company to do the following:
- Remotely control the load and cut off persistent non-payers.
- Digitalize electricity metering.
Thanks to the well-developed electricity network, 99 percent of the country's population has electricity. Approximately 20 percent of the generated electricity is consumed domestically, while the remaining 80 percent is exported to neighboring countries.
The energy system is managed from the dispatch control center. If something happens to all the substations, it won't just be the energy sector that suffers, but also the industries that depend on it.
Key organization: Tube oil and gas company.
Lines of business: oil and gas extraction, processing, storage, transportation, and refining, and distribution of petroleum products (such as supplies to tire and paint-and-varnish factories).
State F, which has roughly 10 percent of the world's reserves of oil and gas, is a leading exporter of these resources. Tube, the country's top producer of oil and gas, is actively expanding its resource base through exploration.
What with its substantial gas reserves, Tube began driving the gas industry by developing its own automated gas distribution station. As of today, the company has essentially managed to build an entire subindustry that includes a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant and a high-tech natural gas processing plant. This has enabled Tube to reach a new level of production and scale up the extraction, processing, and export of natural resources.
Oil enterprises owned by Tube implement the full cycle of oil production, including extraction, storage, processing, and transportation of petroleum products. Tube also owns paint-and-varnish and tire factories and bitumen plants.
Lines of business: oil and gas extraction, processing, storage, transportation, and refining, and distribution of petroleum products (such as supplies to tire and paint-and-varnish factories).
State F, which has roughly 10 percent of the world's reserves of oil and gas, is a leading exporter of these resources. Tube, the country's top producer of oil and gas, is actively expanding its resource base through exploration.
What with its substantial gas reserves, Tube began driving the gas industry by developing its own automated gas distribution station. As of today, the company has essentially managed to build an entire subindustry that includes a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant and a high-tech natural gas processing plant. This has enabled Tube to reach a new level of production and scale up the extraction, processing, and export of natural resources.
Oil enterprises owned by Tube implement the full cycle of oil production, including extraction, storage, processing, and transportation of petroleum products. Tube also owns paint-and-varnish and tire factories and bitumen plants.
Here's how Tube's process flows look:
Oil production
A pumping station delivers crude oil via a pipeline to a tank farm and an oil refinery.
The oil pipeline is the only link between the oil extraction and refining sites.
The oil pipeline is the only link between the oil extraction and refining sites.
The tank farm, or oil depot, consists of special systems for storing oil and petroleum products, situated in an enclosed area.
Each tank is equipped with fire-extinguishing and liquid-level control systems to prevent overflow.
Each tank is equipped with fire-extinguishing and liquid-level control systems to prevent overflow.
Pumping
Storage
The oil refinery is a complex industrial facility that includes oil cargo piers, electric dehydrators, tube furnaces, fractionating columns, a hydrocracking unit, control panels, and other equipment.
At the oil refinery, oil first passes through an electric dehydrator for the removal of salt and water. It then goes to a tube furnace where it is heated up to a certain temperature. After that, the heated oil is separated into fractions in a fractionating column.
Finished petroleum products are delivered to the storage facilities, after which they are transported to customers.
At the oil refinery, oil first passes through an electric dehydrator for the removal of salt and water. It then goes to a tube furnace where it is heated up to a certain temperature. After that, the heated oil is separated into fractions in a fractionating column.
Finished petroleum products are delivered to the storage facilities, after which they are transported to customers.
Refining
The refined oil is exported by rail. An automated on-spot station is used to pour oil into rail tankers quickly, safely, and without leaks.
Transportation
Gas production
Natural gas also undergoes a complete technological process:
This phase includes exploration of deposits, well drilling, installation of extraction equipment, and transportation of gas to the purification area.
Here, natural gas is liquefied to reduce its volume, which makes transportation more cost-effective, especially by sea.
Extraction
LNG plant
This phase involves the removal of impurities and contaminants from the raw gas. Once the gas is purified, it is sent through a gas compressor station to either the LNG plant or the natural gas processing plant.
Purification
The processing of raw natural gas involves four stages: compression, cooling, rectification, and separation.
The primary goal is to obtain gas products for use in the chemical industry and other areas, including the production of plastics, fertilizers, and fuel.
The primary goal is to obtain gas products for use in the chemical industry and other areas, including the production of plastics, fertilizers, and fuel.
Natural gas processing plant
Key organizations: Central Bank of Standoff, Commercial Bank of Standoff, First Partner Bank, and Global Digital Bank.
Lines of business: currency issuance and bank regulation by the Central Bank of Standoff; consumer financial services provided by Commercial Bank of Standoff, First Partner Bank, and Global Digital Bank.
Lines of business: currency issuance and bank regulation by the Central Bank of Standoff; consumer financial services provided by Commercial Bank of Standoff, First Partner Bank, and Global Digital Bank.
A monetary authority responsible for issuing currency and regulating other banks in State F to ensure their stable operation.
Central Bank of Standoff
Commercial Bank of Standoff
Caters to both individuals and organizations and offers international money transfers via SWIFTNet.
First Partner Bank
Specializes in personal banking, supports QR code payments in its mobile app, and also provides internet acquiring services for small businesses.
Global Digital Bank
Operates without brick-and-mortar locations or tellers and offers a wide range of products and services, from standard plastic cards and domestic money transfers to a mobile app with multiple features.
Online banking enables customers to perform all types of transactions without setting foot in a bank office. Business-to-business payments are also facilitated through cashless transactions. However, as the range of services offered by internet banking increases, so too does the number of cybersecurity threats.
Statistics published by the Central Bank of Standoff reveal that banks incur significant financial losses as a result of poor information security. Such banks risk losing their license, which has happened several times in recent years.
Statistics published by the Central Bank of Standoff reveal that banks incur significant financial losses as a result of poor information security. Such banks risk losing their license, which has happened several times in recent years.
Key organization: STFware IT company.
Lines of business: hosting services and software development.
State F is experiencing a digital transformation across all industrial sectors. Modern software enhances the efficiency of enterprises and improves business competitiveness.
STFware focus areas:
Lines of business: hosting services and software development.
State F is experiencing a digital transformation across all industrial sectors. Modern software enhances the efficiency of enterprises and improves business competitiveness.
STFware focus areas:
Development of cutting-edge products and software solutions
Serverless platform services
Users can seamlessly execute functions in multiple programming languages via the company's cloud.
Promotion of secure development principles
One of STFware's biggest projects is the flagship Open City app, which is a platform for citizens to interact with municipal authorities and businesses.
STFware is regularly targeted by cyberattacks. A leak of confidential data could lead to the takeover of the domain infrastructure, jeopardizing the security of the company and its clients.
STFware is regularly targeted by cyberattacks. A leak of confidential data could lead to the takeover of the domain infrastructure, jeopardizing the security of the company and its clients.