Navy Reservists Undergo Four-Day Cyber Training

The U.S. Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic hosted a cybersecurity exercise for Navy reservists.

During the four-day Gibson Castle 23 exercise, over 50 Naval Information Warfare Systems Command Reserve Program Cybersecurity Pillar reserves were trained on operational and tactical strategies for real-world cyber breaches. Specifically, the trainees learned how to coordinate with other agencies and stakeholders during a cyber breach, conduct operations using different tools, detect threats and parse through data to identify indicators of compromise.

The trainees also learned defensive cyber operations-specific training. The exercise was conducted by NIWC Atlantic’s Cyber Security Service Provider, DVIDS reported.

The training came around the same time the Navy Secretary and 2023 Wash100 awardee Carlos Del Toro released the Department of the Navy’s cyber strategy. It includes seven focus areas that align the Navy with the National Defense Strategy and the Department of Defense’s cyber strategy.

According to the department, the strategy’s core efforts include cyber workforce support, critical infrastructure and weapon systems security and cyber operations facilitation, enterprise IT and data protection and defense industrial base collaboration. The strategy was developed by the service’s Office of the Principal Cyber Advisor and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.