Dept of Homeland Security tests cyberterrorism response

Massive 'Cyber Storm' simulates attack

By Chris Williams • Get more from this author

Posted in IT Director, 13th February 2006 12:05 GMT

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The US Department of Homeland Security has conducted a wargame to test how the country's key IT infrastructure would stand up to a coordinated attack.

The week-long operation 'Cyber Storm' ended on Friday and involved 115 federal agencies, banks, power companies and IT firms. The results will now be analysed by government security experts, with a full report due by summer.

The Associated Press reports that Department of Homeland Security undersecretary George W. Foresman compared his agency's role during any online attack to an orchestra conductor, coordinating responses from law enforcement, intelligence agencies, the military and private firms. Foresman said the goal is a “symphony of preparedness” against cyberterrorism.

The exercise had no effect on the real internet, but instead simulated an attack on the power grid in 10 states, and isolated systems at Cisco, Verisgn, and Microsoft.

An earlier exercise called 'Livewire' concluded there were serious unknowns as to the role government would play in an attack.®

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