Army wants better persistent cyber training environments

The Army Program Executive Office for Simulation on Training and Instrumentation is requesting white papers on possible technical solutions for persistent cyber training environments or PCTE.

A PCTE platform allows for cyber mission forces to train in emulated network situations that use current cyber tools. Both individuals and teams can be trained with large-scale exercises and more experimental situations through a closed network spanning multiple classifications.

The Defense Department currently conducts training on a combination of loosely affiliated or independent virtual environments. These environments lack the necessary automation to establish and maintain persistent and scalable training environments.

The Army wants the white papers to touch on event management, such as dedicated and distributed event creation and scheduling, and environment and resource management to handle a closed cyber exercise network.

More specifically, it is asking for:

• Realistic vignettes and scenarios for initial training qualifications through certification, and even for mission rehearsal
• Event scheduling, management and execution
• Standardized training assessment

A live joint opposing force, or aggressor, to realistically simulate adversary threats and vulnerabilities, in addition to “canned” scenarios that impersonate an automated opposing force based on the current threat

The Army released the request for information Oct. 17. Responses are due by Nov. 16.