US, France partner for bilateral training exercise, Cyber Fort III

Photo By Josef Cole | U.S. Cyber Command and French cyber warriors collaborate during the training exercise, Cyber Fort III, at Fort George G. Meade, Md., July 21, 2021. The bilateral, exercise Cyber Fort III brought together more than 70 cyber warriors from USCYBERCOM and French Cyber Defense Forces Command, in four teams operating on 450 simulated networks, for training designed to increase speed, agility, and unity of effort, to combat challenges posed by advanced persistent threats and ensure common defense in cyberspace.  

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MD, UNITED STATES

07.30.2021

Story by Josef Cole 

U.S. Cyber Command

Cyber Fort III, recently held on Fort George G. Meade, Md., was a bilateral, hands-on-keyboard exercise between U.S Cyber Command and France's Cyber Defense Forces Command designed to combat challenges posed by advanced persistent threats and ensure common defense in cyberspace.

"As cyber threats continue to evolve at an increasingly rapid pace, it is imperative that like-minded nations work together to ensure our common defense with speed, agility, and unity of efforts required to meet ever-growing cyber threats," said Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, USCYBERCOM director of J5 Plans and Policy.

Bringing together cyber warriors from two countries and involving more than 70 participants, 400 simulated users, 450 simulated networks and subnets, and 1,000 different simulated systems, the exercise simulated the relevant tactics, techniques, and procedures of advanced persistent threats.

"We must work with important allies like France to ensure malicious actors are denied the ability to operate with impunity," Berg emphasized.

Nation-state actors, criminal organizations, and terrorists all pose a cyber-threat to nations. Berg reiterated the importance of training and partnerships for cyber defense, now and in the future.

"The bilateral Cyber Fort III exercise continued to demonstrate the importance of the partnership with the French Cyber Defense Forces Command, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to confront the cyber defense challenges of the 21st century."

• Date Taken: 07.30.2021
• Date Posted: 08.02.2021 13:14
• Story ID: 402239
• Location: FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MD, US