A small college in Flint, Michigan has won the US National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.

The team from Baker College beat five other universities to take first place in the competition.

The students were placed in charge of a simulated business network and subjected to a hostile attack. They were then graded on their ability to maintain and operate the network.

"We have competed in these collegiate cyber-defence competitions for the past three years and have never made it past the regional level," said Brandon Hladysh, captain of the Baker College team.

"I am really proud of my team mates and they truly are the best of the best. "

A team from Texas A&M University took second place, while Louisville University came third. The seven finalists were among 56 schools which took part in the competition.

The Baker College team will be invited to the third Operation Cyber Storm exercise in 2010 which teams up government and corporations to simulate a catastrophic cyber-attack.