Team-Based Training and the Power of Simulation

In the constantly evolving realm of cybersecurity, it is critical for incident responders to be prepared and effective. As cyber threats grow more complex, the training approaches for these defenders must evolve to anticipate and address emerging vulnerabilities. While there is a place for knowledge-based certifications, training “like you fight” as a team is essential. This article highlights key practices in training cybersecurity incident responders, emphasizing the benefits of team-based exercises and the strategic use of simulated environments such as cyber ranges.

Emphasizing Team-Based Training

Cybersecurity incidents often demand a well-coordinated response from a team equipped with diverse expertise. Here’s why team-based training is not just beneficial but necessary:

1. Real-world Simulation: Effective training should mirror real cyber attack scenarios, ranging from data breaches to sophisticated persistent threats. These exercises allow teams to hone their strategies and improve decision-making under pressure.
2. Cross-functional Skills: It’s crucial that team members are not only experts in their specific roles but also have an understanding of their colleagues’ duties. Such cross-training ensures flexibility and comprehensive coverage during crises.
3. Iterative Learning: Post-training debriefs are vital. They provide a platform for team members to reflect on successes and areas for improvement, reinforcing lessons learned and fostering a culture of continuous enhancement. From these post-training debriefs, action items can be identified, and remedial training to close gaps in knowledge can be assigned to individual participants.

Leveraging Simulated Environments, or Cyber Ranges

Cyber ranges are controlled environments that simulate real cyber threats, offering an invaluable space for hands-on training.

1. Practical Engagement: These environments allow teams to engage with a suite of real tools and live-fire attack simulations in a safe, non-production environment, offering insights into the dynamics of cyber warfare without the associated risks.
2. Tailored Scenarios: Cyber ranges can be customized to reflect recent threats or specific training needs, ensuring that exercises are as relevant and challenging as possible.
3. Performance Metrics: With live trainers and built-in analytics, cyber ranges can measure team and individual performance, pinpointing strengths and areas needing attention and enabling targeted training interventions.

The ROI of Training Versus Buying New Tools

Investing in the training of your cybersecurity team can yield substantial returns compared to merely purchasing new security tools. Here’s how:

• Enhanced Problem-solving Capacity: Well-trained teams are more adept at identifying, responding to, and mitigating cyber threats, often using existing tools more effectively. This is shown with outcomes such as a reduced time to detect, time to contain, and time to remediate.
• Reduced Incident Impact: Effective response teams can significantly diminish the potential damage from incidents, saving costs associated with breaches such as downtime, data loss, and recovery.
• Long-term Resilience: Continuous training cultivates a knowledgeable and adaptable workforce, capable of handling new threats as they emerge, thus future-proofing your organization against evolving cyber risks.

Why Does This Matter?

CISOs will want to know why cybersecurity team training matters in the day-to-day discharging of their cybersecurity responsibilities. Continuous training, whether it be in the form of simulated exercises in a technical cyber range, certifications, or conducting process reviews and tabletop exercises, all contribute to risk reduction for the organization. By educating the cyber workforce, we also give them the skills to drive outcomes in your organization. These range from things in incident response like Minimum-Time-To-Detect, all the way up to risk reduction, improving your bottom line, and enhancing overall cyber resilience. It is imperative to invest in our people just as much as we invest in the tools we use.

Conclusion

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to shift, the training of incident responders should be a proactive and adaptive strategy, focused on robust team dynamics and practical, immersive experiences in simulated settings. This approach not only prepares teams for immediate threats but also builds a resilient organizational culture capable of withstanding future challenges. In the long run, the investment in training your cybersecurity team is likely to offer more substantial returns than simply acquiring another tool. Effective training ensures operational readiness and adaptability, key components for thriving in today’s volatile cyber environment.

About the Author

Tom Marsland, VP of Technology at Cloud Range, is a cybersecurity professional with over 22 years of experience in the information technology and nuclear power industry. He served over 22 years in the US Navy as a Nuclear Reactor Operator and Instrumentation and Controls Technician, working in nuclear engine rooms on a myriad of Navy submarine platforms. His final tour of duty was as the head of the nuclear-powered engine room for a fast attack Navy submarine with oversight of the entire propulsion and electric plant, and then as the lead nuclear supervisor for a squadron of three submarines. He has a bachelor’s degree in IT security and a master’s degree in cybersecurity. He’s married to Jennifer, an Emergency Management Planner, and they have four children and two grandchildren. They reside in the Pacific Northwest, and in his free time, he enjoys backpacking through the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. Tom can be reached online at ([email protected], @tmarsland on X.) and at our company website https://www.cloudrangecyber.com/.