How best to secure US naval cyberspace?

Two Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) interns recently helped create, develop and co-host a Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge to secure their own naval networks and employ best cybersecurity practices.

NREIP interns Daniel Jermyn and Trevor Phillips built up the scenario in an offline network in a cyber lab created from Naval Innovative Science and Engineering funding. The simulation involved use of common hacking tools to break security practices, crack passwords and access information maliciously.

The challenge, which involved four teams, was sponsored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD).

NSWC PCD cybersecurity architect Kate Maglio said: “This event gives participants an idea of how to secure their own networks while learning how hackers are able to get into their systems and how to keep them out.”

Matthew Chastain, software engineer at NSWC PCD, believes this challenge, inspired by CTF events at Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, will help scientists and engineers integrate IA (information assurance) protection into the products instead of applying it at the end.

Read details here.