The National Cipher Challenge
Engaging the next generation of code breakers
The National Cipher Challenge faced scaling issues under intense traffic spikes, data privacy requirements, and need for an accessible experience. Find out how we delivered a digital platform that could keep up with the needs of the popular STEM education initiative.
Now in its 22nd year, the National Cipher Challenge is an annual online code-breaking competition that engages thousands of students across the UK. Organised by the University of Southampton, this brilliant initiative challenges young minds to decipher cryptic puzzles and unravel mysteries to win £4,000 in prizes.
Partnering with 10 Degrees means working with people that understand our principles, and know the rules, we’re just completely on the same page.
Prof Graham Niblo
Organiser, National Cipher Challenge
Meeting complex requirements for a unique experience
The National Cipher Challenge had been running since 2002, self-hosted on university servers in The School of Mathematical Sciences. But, this setup soon struggled with intense traffic spikes when students raced to access the puzzles during launch.
The organisers needed a professionally hosted solution to ensure reliable scalability. This needed to include:
- An easy-to-update system within a limited budget
- A competition engine that marked entries automatically, generated certificates and used encryption algorithms to manage the challenges
- Private registration without collecting personal data
- Secure messaging to communicate confidentially
- Accessibility and custom workflows for neurodiverse participants
- Analytics on demographics like age and gender
With sponsorship from GCHQ, they partnered with us in 2016 to move the challenge onto WordPress, and we’re proud to have been working together ever since.
Impact
3,916 teams registered in 2023 with 7554 users.
42%
Female users
55%
Male users
3%
Neither gender
Zero-knowledge registration system
The registration system was designed to allow competitors to sign up anonymously without providing any personal information, protecting student privacy. “We needed a system where we don’t collect any identifiable information about competitors.”
Custom accessibility workflows
We worked closely with organisers to provide highly customised accessibility solutions for neurodiverse participants. In one case, we rapidly deployed a custom registration flow for a autistic student, “the family were very anxious and concerned their daughter wouldn’t be able to take part, and when I got up the next morning, 10 Degrees had already changed the registration system.”
Penetration testing by trusted partners
Robust security testing is critical with children using the site. We commission annual penetration testing by trusted security firm Netcraft to probe for vulnerabilities. “10 Degrees worked very closely with Netcraft on penetration testing…it tells people that they are prepared to go where the expertise is.”
Developing for engagement analytics
While protecting privacy, the platform still provides anonymised demographic analytics. This visibility into engagement gives organisers important insight they can use to measure the initiative’s reach and impact.
Methodology
We run comprehensive discovery phases as standard. With Southampton Clinical Trials Unit we analysed their existing content, conducted student focus groups, and documented project requirements. Collaborating closely with stakeholders like this, we ensured alignment and mitigated project risks at each stage of design and development through agile techniques.
- Stakeholder management
- Iterative improvements and recommendations
- Delivering client and end user satisfaction
- Long-term support and maintenance
Our company values represent the heart of our business and define our culture. They help STEER us to make the best decisions for our clients, for our team and our community.
Skilful
Providing a quality service is paramount to us. We use the best skills from across our team to meet your needs. We adhere to best-practice standards across our whole team, ensuring all our work is well documented, well organised and methodically produced by a team who take pride in the quality of their work.
Transparent
Honest and open communication is what you can expect from us. We’re a business with a commercial conscience, we price fairly and honestly (no cowboy overinflating of prices or bartering here). We’re focussed on building long term relationships for mutual benefit.
Empathetic
Understanding you and your objectives is critical to the success of our relationship. Building tools for maximum inclusivity and adhering to recognised accessibility standards is at the heart of everything we do.
Ethical
We take a strong stance on the sectors we’re willing to work with and we won’t take on work that we can’t fulfil or don’t have the skills to deliver. We are mindful of the environmental impact we’re having on the world, both as a business and for the carbon impact of the products we develop.
Reliable
Very simply, we do what we say we will, when we say we will. We deliver on time and to budget. We have a collaborative approach to everything we do and do not consider ourselves simply as ‘suppliers’.
