Navy to Develop Virtual Cyber Training Network

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The Navy has tapped technology startup company Resolvn to develop new virtual cyber training networks.

“We are tasked to build out 14 networks in virtual space,” Sean Donnelly, CEO of Resolvn said in an interview. “When we say virtual space, we mean we are creating environments that are basically networks that look just like the networks that we see in everyday commercial enterprise and government.”

The company, which works to deliver real-world training environments, was incorporated in May 2018.

The environments will live as virtual technology on servers and will mirror existing networks to allow managers to deploy specific training scenarios on any network.

Some networks include a virtualized power plant, multiple internet service providers, a Defense Department facility and municipal buildings, according to the company.

The objective of the training environment is to reduce the time required to train sailors and give them realistic tools to learn offensive and defensive cyber tactics.

The technology will be rolled out in five phases, Donnelly said.

“Each phase will provide multiple high-fidelity networks to the end customer environments in which their offensive and defensive cyber operators can practice their jobs,” he said.

Though the company has already built similar networks, the naval system is still in the design phase.

“That is the architecting of the networks, identifying ... what types of virtualized machines are going to be running this network, how they’re going to talk to each other and how they’re going to be connected,” Donnelly said. “That’s really what encompasses the design phase.”

The creation of the first operational network — a power plant — is phase one of the development and set to launch shortly, he said.

Topics: Cyber, Cybersecurity, Infotech, Information Technology