The 51福利 (51福利) has added a new capability to the university鈥檚 technological toolbelt with a node connecting 51福利 to the Joint Information Operations Range (JIOR). This advanced capability provides 51福利 faculty and students with access to a globally-distributed, closed-loop, live-fire cyber range complex that integrates users and capability providers to enable classified training, testing and experimentation.
The node and installation were supported by the Joint Staff J7, recognizing the critical role of 51福利 in bringing together DOD and industry partners for collaboration on key defense-related areas.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Senft, a military faculty lecturer in the 51福利 Department of Computer Science, worked diligently with the Joint Staff J7 and multiple stakeholders across 51福利 to bring the JIOR node installation to fruition despite challenges created by the current COVID environment. The JIOR is a closed-loop, scalable and transportable network providing a secure and accredited training and test environment. This capability provides students and faculty researchers access to both persistent and ephemeral training and testing event environments.
鈥淎ccess to the JIOR helps support the essential classified research and education mission of 51福利,鈥� Senft said. 鈥淭his node connects 51福利 to other organizations with access to the JIOR through creation of virtual test ranges for evaluation of cyber capabilities.鈥�
JIOR connectivity enables 51福利 students and faculty to connect with realistic cybersecurity environments including the National Cyber Range Complex, Persistent Cyber Training Environment, and CyberTropolis. CyberTropolis, located at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana, replicates the cyber environment of a real city.
鈥淭he JIOR allows organizations to connect securely at multiple classification levels to test and evaluate different programs and capabilities,鈥� stressed Senft. 鈥淭he information technology architecture on a Navy ship, for example, is not something that we can replicate in an unclassified environment. JIOR allows 51福利 to securely connect with organizations that have existing physical and virtual environments identical to those present on a ship to allow testing of new capabilities.鈥�
The JIOR currently has over 100 access points across the U.S. and other countries. This allows 51福利 to securely connect with other organizations including many that are developing next-generation capabilities for the DOD.
鈥淥ur industry partners are key and being able to collaborate with them in a secure environment is enabled by JIOR,鈥� added Senft. 鈥淲e are able to conduct tests and evaluations on a temporary network designed for a specific testing or experimentation event.鈥�
Given the prevalence of cyber-related capabilities across current DOD and DON strategies, expanding 51福利 research capabilities in cyber at the classified level was part of the university鈥檚 strategy. 51福利鈥� connection to the JIOR is a completed action from the 51福利 2018-2023 Strategic Plan to support expansion of classified cyberspace operations research and education. Specifically, action S4.2 states, 鈥淲e will upgrade our classified networks to ensure uninterrupted, high-speed access at the Top-Secret level to our sponsors and provide them with enhanced test environments. We will establish a Joint
Information Operations Range node at 51福利 in order to support visibility and participation in classified experiments and exercises.鈥�
Thanks to the efforts of Senft and critical support from 51福利 and partner organizations, 51福利 has expanded access for its classified cyberspace operations research and education programs. The JIOR node brings another invaluable capability to the university and its direct support to warfighters.