New England Cyber Defense Exercise Highlights Evolving Threat Landscape

A High-Profile Briefing on Cyber Threats

In an unprecedented development during the annual Cyber Yankee exercise, a collaborative initiative focused on safeguarding critical infrastructure in New England, National Guard personnel received a comprehensive briefing on cyber threats from a utility company recently breached by a notorious Chinese cyber actor. The exercise, in its 11th iteration, serves as a critical platform for military personnel, private sector organizations, and key utilities to simulate responses to cyber intrusions that target essential services.

Learning from Real-World Breaches

This year’s exercise featured a case study from Littleton Electric, Light, and Water Departments, a small utility located approximately 40 miles from Boston. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alerted the utility in 2023 to the intrusion by a Chinese hacking group known as Volt Typhoon. This entity was discovered exploiting existing system tools for malicious purposes—an approach referred to as "living off the land."

The implications of such breaches cannot be overstated. Volt Typhoon marks a worrying transformation in Chinese cyber tactics, shifting from traditional espionage and intellectual property theft to direct threats against critical infrastructure. This change underscores the need for heightened vigilance among U.S. defense and security entities.

Insights from Cyber Yankee Exercise

The Cyber Yankee exercise provides a unique opportunity to meld military capabilities with civilian expertise. Participants this year included approximately 400 individuals across various sectors, encompassing military, government, and international partners from multiple nations including Israel and Kenya. Lt. Col. Matthew Dupuis, the exercise’s director from the New Hampshire Army National Guard, remarked on the heightened focus among military personnel on operational technology (OT) as a direct result of the briefing.

“Participants recognized the gravity of Volt Typhoon’s penetration into essential service networks, which aligns closely with the scenarios crafted for the exercise,” Dupuis stated.

The Importance of Collaborative Exercises

The value of collaborative exercises like Cyber Yankee extends beyond mere simulation; they are pivotal in fostering trust between the National Guard and private sector entities responsible for managing our critical infrastructure. Success depends on engagement and cooperation, as Guard members need permission from these organizations to intervene during crises.

Key Exercise Outcomes:

• Enhanced focus on operational technology as a component of security strategies.
• Increased participation from military and governmental entities, highlighting the importance of a united approach to cyber defense.
• Plans to implement more real-world examples in future exercises, broadening the knowledge base for participants.

Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

The threat posed by increasingly aggressive cyber actors aligns with current U.S. defense strategies, where peer competitors like China are identified as primary threats to national security. Colonel Cameron Sprague, deputy director for Cyber Yankee, emphasized this point: "Our scenario centers on addressing near-peer nation-state threats that jeopardize critical infrastructure, particularly in the New England region."

Realistic attack simulations are designed using open-source tactics and techniques, ensuring that the exercise remains unclassified while still providing an authentic engagement for participants. This approach allows for broader involvement without the restrictions of security clearances, facilitating more effective collaboration across diverse stakeholders.

Advancements in Military-Civilian Partnerships

Companies participating in Cyber Yankee gain invaluable insights, often unavailable in typical training environments. This collaboration not only enhances their operational resilience but also solidifies the National Guard’s role in supporting federal cybersecurity initiatives.

The exercise also captures the interest of active-duty military branches, notably the Space Force, which has shown increasing involvement due to its focus on operational technology. Such participation enhances defense preparedness, particularly in sectors impacted by these advanced cyber threats.

Conclusion

As the landscape of cyber threats continues to evolve, exercises like Cyber Yankee play an essential role in preparing both military and civilian entities to address the complexities of modern cyber warfare. Moving forward, the necessity for cohesive strategies that leverage the strengths of both sectors is more vital than ever for national security.