The 2014 edition of the National Security Agency‘s Cyber Defense Exercise tested how U.S. service academy students could work to maintain and protect networks in a cyber attack, said Neal Ziring, technical director of NSA’s information assurance directorate.“The CDX is an advanced cyber skill building exercise unique in its breadth and of vital importance in developing hands-on cyber defense skills within the U.S. military,†Ziring said Apr. 11.
CDX occurred between April 7 and April 10.
“It focused on a key concern of military commanders—keeping network services running in the face of enemy attack,†he added.
Ziring also said the CDX aims to offer participants training on how to secure a network and how to analyze and adapt to an opponent.
“Once they’ve been through an exercise like CDX, they haven’t just read about being under attack, they’ve felt it, and that is the best thing for them to bring into their military careers defending our nation,” Ziring concluded.
A student team from the U.S. Military Academy won the competition against students from the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy won the competition.
