The U.S. Air Force is using the Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE) to further the development of a redesigned training concept that involves cyber protection teams, C4ISRnet reported Saturday.
The squadron recently conducted an exercise called Vigilant Eagle to test the new approach which entails breaking teams into smaller groups with roles encompassing cyberthreat emulation, mission protection, cyber readiness, cyber support and counter-infiltration.
PCTE, which the U.S. Army manages on behalf of the U.S. Cyber Command and joint cyber force, works to test the new cyber tactics at the individual and CPT levels. Capt. Jonathan Poole, team lead for the Air Force's 300 CPT, told C4ISRnet that the CPTs enable flexibility in defending networks separated by long distances.
“Sewing up those gaps and training as you would any other professional team and understanding where those weaknesses are so you can shore those up is what we’re trying to identify through the team exercise component such as Vigilant Eagle,” noted Lt. Col. Ken Malloy, commander of the 834th Cyberspace Operations Squadron.
