DHS Releases Cyber Storm Results

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) successfully executed Cyber Storm, the first national cyber exercise Feb. 6 thru Feb. 10, 2006. The exercise was the first government-led, full-scale cyber security exercise of its kind. NCSD, a division within the department's Preparedness Directorate, provides the federal government with a centralized cyber security coordination and preparedness function called for in the National Strategy for Homeland Security, the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7. NCSD is the focal point for the federal government's interaction with state and local government, the private sector and the international community concerning cyberspace vulnerability reduction efforts.

Cyber Storm was designed to test communications, policies and procedures in response to various cyber attacks and to identify where further planning and process improvements are needed.
The exercise simulated a sophisticated cyber attack campaign through a series of scenarios directed at several critical infrastructure sectors. The intent of these scenarios was to highlight the interconnectedness of cyber systems with physical infrastructure and to exercise coordination and communication between the public and private sectors. Each scenario was developed with the assistance of industry experts and was executed in a closed and secure environment.

Cyber Storm scenarios had three major adversarial objectives:

• To disrupt specifically targeted critical infrastructure through cyber attacks
• To hinder the governments' ability to respond to the cyber attacks
• To undermine public confidence in the governments' ability to provide and protect services

The exercise was a simulated event with no real-world effects on, tampering with, or damage to any critical infrastructure. While the scenarios were based on hypothetical situations, they were not intended as a forecast of future terrorist-related events.