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In today's increasing hostile communications environment, a strong computer network defense (CND) program is the key to an organization maintaining maximum availability and security of their data networks.
Creating a Strong Computer Network Defense Program
To most effectively prepare an IT organization, the security team needs to routinely train as they would operate in their everyday environment. They need to not only rehearse against realistic attack scenarios, but they must also train on IT systems that mirror their own infrastructure. Finally, training as a team is critical to enable them to effectively administer and coordinate the many functions of computer network defense, which include secure system configuration, intrusion detection, incident analysis, forensics, misuse data collection and incident mitigation.
CyberNEXS: Providing Near-Real Time Feedback
In response to this need, SAIC developed the Cyber Network EXercise System (CyberNEXS), which assists the organization's chief information office (CIO) in the training and evaluation of its computer network defense (CND) team's ability to detect network attacks/intrusions and defend its critical information resources from those attacks. CyberNEXS provides near-real time feedback in a realistic environment where new network defense tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) can be developed, tested and integrated.
The Competition Platform of Choice
The SAIC CyberNEXS system was selected as the competition platform because of its scalability, real-world IT systems, and a scoring system that produces high-fidelity, credible feedback of a contestant's progress.
CyberNEXS is conducted in a controlled training environment, emulating real-world systems and threat activity. The training environment includes representative network, server and workstation systems that the students are expected to configure and maintain in the highest state of readiness. Additionally, an evaluation system has been implemented that will automatically sample system configurations to check that the students have installed the most up-to-date vulnerability fixes. It also determines whether or not a system has been successfully attacked and whether critical services are being interrupted.
CyberNEXS is the competition engine for other events, such as:
- Air Force Association (AFA) National High School Cyber Defense Competition
- State of Maine High School Cyber Defense Competition
- Center for Information System Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA) Mid-West Collegiate Competition
- View video demonstration of CyberNEXS
- Learn More About SAIC's Cybersecurity Solutions
UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and/or other countries.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Contact Us Today
Need more information on sponsorships, conference details, or participating in the competition? Contact us today.