Communications of the ACM
Make Way for State and Local Cyber-Ranges
State and local governments are beginning to warm to the idea of creating cyberexercise facilities.
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The U.S. government has wanted a nationwide network of unclassified cyberexercise facilities for years, and now that idea is coming to state and local governments. The network of facilities will enable information technology professionals without security clearance to practice for cyberattacks in multi-state and multi-stakeholder efforts.
The U.S. National Science Foundation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have previously created cyber-ranges, but they are not accessible to those without security clearance. Michigan National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Stone says there are many talented IT professionals, students, professors, and civilians who could be a part of state and local cybersecurity efforts--but not if the system precludes their participation.
Stone notes that unclassified cyber-ranges also are needed because state and local government officials do not want to wait for the federal government in the case of a cyberattack. He says it does not make sense to put federal agencies in charge of critical infrastructure such as power grids and dams, because that is not who is operating them.
Stone says the cyber-range network is part of a larger effort to set the right conditions for a workforce that can handle these issues.
From Government Technology
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