CYDEST™—CYber DEfenSe Trainer

A flight simulator for network defenders

ATCorp's CYber DEfenSe Trainer (CYDEST) provides immersive, tactical-level exercises in computer network defense and rapid digital forensics. Its security-oriented training scenarios are geared for "in the trenches" personnel such as network administrators, incident first responders, and digital forensics investigators. "Free play" exercises are run in real time within a virtualized environment using real systems, real attacks, and real defensive tools. CYDEST's training scenarios are complemented by pedagogical training materials integrated into the system.

CYDEST architecture: Networks of reconfigurable virtual machines are remotely accessible by students and instructors.

CYDEST provides flexible training options to students while greatly reducing instructor workload. The system is available 24/7/365 from any location; students may access the system over the Internet using only a Java-enabled web browser. It is unnecessary for instructors to monitor training sessions. Instead, the system automatically evaluates trainee performance, providing instructors with audit records of exercise runs. The auto-assessment capability also enables dynamic attack scenarios that adapt to trainee's defensive actions.

CYDEST's web interfaces load in separate browser tabs and promote situational awareness.

Key Features:

• Full fidelity: virtual environment provides full fidelity for both hosts and network.
• Realism: students use real software tools to defend real systems a gainst real attacks and exploits.
• Automation: monitoring and assessment of trainee performance reduces instructor workload.
• Feedback: dynamically responds to student actions, altering attack strategy and providing hints to personalize training.
• Accessibility: available 24/7/365 over the Internet, requiring only a web browser.
• Customizable: scenarios are written to train for specific networks, software, and learning objectives.
• Evaluation: monitoring of trainee decision making using an electronic lab notebook, as well as automated monitoring of trainee actions.

CYDEST's combination of automation and accessibility capabilities yields a unique way to train students. It is suited to a range of applications in the commercial, military, government, and academic sectors.