Blake Hall
The long-standing rivalries between the military academies has been well documented by students, graduates and military community members alike. Now the prestigious schools are duking it out once more in a less public arena–cyber space.
Since 2001, the service academies have participated in an annual competition to build and defend computer networks. Over the next three days, students will defend their networks from National Security Agency and Department of Defense hackers. The exercise will test each team’s ability to build and manage a network that is constantly under siege.
The team withstands the most cyber attacks wins. Last year’s winning team attended the U.S. Naval Academy.
Cyberterrorism and warfare is becoming a bigger priority in the U.S. military. The Islamic State uses social media to recruit new members and orchestrate deadly attacks. Chinese citizens have been linked to a conspiracy to digitally steal U.S. military information, and the Chinese government is still suspected of pulling off the colossal Office of Personnel Management cyber attack in 2015. Some believe U.S. Cyber Command should be elevated as a combatant command.
If CYBERCOM gets an upgrade, the DoD can rely on the military academies for experienced cyber warriors.