Cyber exercise improves interagency cooperation

Earlier this month, 550 participants engaged in Cyber Guard 14-1, a two-week exercise designed to test operational and interagency coordination in the event of a domestic cyberspace incident. Participants included elements of the National Guard Reserves, National Security Agency, and U.S. Cyber Command, as well as individuals involved in U.S. government, academia, and industry.

During the exercise, Cyber Guard participants demonstrated their support to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FBI responses to foreign-based cyber attacks on simulated critical infrastructure networks. The exercise acted as a “test drive” of operational capabilities and interagency coordination between DoD components, the FBI, and DHS.

Officials stated that in the event of a domestic cyber incident, federal agencies have specific, complementary roles. Greg Touhill, deputy assistant secretary of homeland security for cybersecurity operations and programs, stressed the importance of interagency preparedness, saying that “Practicing as an interagency team is essential to ensure national response to cyber events produce results that are effective and efficient.”

The event was executed by Cybercom and hosted by the FBI at the National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

For more information about Cyber Guard, please follow the links below.
Cyber Guard Exercise Tests People, Partnerships, American Forces Press Service
DoD cyber exercise builds on National Guard’s lead, Federal Times