Joint Mission Environment Test Capability National Cyber Range (NCR) Sustainment

Abstract

In FY 2013, responsibility for National Cyber Range (NCR) Operations was transferred to the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) and subsequently aligned under the Joint Mission Environment Test Capability (JMETC) Program Element. Since then, the NCR has executed 140 events for DOD Customers. The NCR provides secure facilities, technology, processes, and workforce to rapidly create hi-fidelity, mission representative cyberspace environments and facilitate integration/federation of cyberspace test and evaluation (T&E) infrastructure in support of the TRMC Mission. The NCR is accredited to operate at TS//SI-G/TK/HCS-P//SAR. As a result of recent recapitalization and capacity enhancement efforts, the NCR now has the capability to support up to 8 concurrent events and scale up to ~250K virtual nodes. The NCR concurrently emulates complex (Red/Blue/Gray) operationally representative network environments at different classification levels using Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) architecture. The NCR Test Automation Tool Suite minimizes human error, enables verification of test environment, ensures repeatable results and reduces event timelines from weeks/months to hours/days. NCR computing assets can be sanitized after exposure to malicious attacks/malware and restored to a known, clean state. The NCR conducts distributed events with other Cyberspace Ranges via the JMETC MILS Network (JMN) and Joint Information Operations Range (JIOR). The NCR conducts Cyberspace Testing, Training and Operational Events for the full spectrum of DoD Customers including Research, Development, Acquisition, Testing, Training and Operational Cyber Mission Forces. The NCR executes wide variety of event types including Science and Technology (S&T) Demonstrations, Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E), Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E), Security Controls Assessments (SCA), Cyberspace Operations Training, Cyberspace Tactics, Techniques Procedures (TTP) Development, Forensics/Malware Analysis) and Cyberspace Operations Mission Rehearsal. The NCR enables acquisition programs to conduct Cybersecurity Test and Evaluation (T&E) in a representative Cyberspace Environment to identify and close exposed vulnerabilities, evaluate resiliency and positively impact program cost, schedule and performance. The NCR also supports Training and Certification of Cyber Mission Forces in support of US Cyber Command by enabling operational forces to efficiently evaluate cyber warfighting capability in a realistic joint mission environment. Finally, the NCR is supporting in real time Overseas Contingency Operations as directed by National Authority.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2018
• Source ID: 200_0605100D8Z_6_0400_PB_2018

Tags

Readers

• Cybersecurity.
• Marine Propulsion Engineering and Naval Architecture

Technology Areas

• Cyber