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SIMTEX Security Training and Development
EADS NA Defense Security and Systems Solutions, Inc organizes plans, develops, and conducts several training exercises each year. Functions include scheduling the events and coordinating training objectives with training representatives, developing scenarios and scripts to meet the objectives, engineering the SIMTEX Network to respond to the scenarios, testing the scenarios, publishing the exercise plan and scenario playbook, training the Instructors (or being the Instructor), managing the simulator during the event, providing network training expertise, collecting observations and reports, providing exercise analysis, and publishing an after-event report.
Training scenarios are designed to stimulate crews to detect, recognize, research, report, and mitigate problems supporting specific training objectives. A "hot wash" is conducted after each training scenario in which the Instructor reviews the scenario step-by-step, what problem was presented, how the attack occurred, and the observed crew actions. If the crew members and the Instructor feel there is training benefit, the scenario can be "re-rolled" to emphasize the training. The Instructor can direct the EADS NA DS3 Engineer to reset the simulator using an automated rebuild tool (Auto-build) specifically developed for this purpose. The Auto-build rebuilds the entire simulator, restoring it to a pre-designated baseline, in a matter of minutes.
The Simulator Training Exercise (SIMTEX) Network supported seven AFCA training exercises, three AF operational exercises, and one Joint Network Exercise over the past four years. Over 1200 network operations crew members participated and trained on the latest SIMTEX in network defense tools, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), network C2, and current threat signatures. Training included over 93 AF Major Command Training and Stan/Eval personnel who learned how to develop and conduct training and evaluation exercises and the value of the SIMTEX Network in training and certifying network professionals.
EADS NA Defense Security and Systems Solutions, Inc was called upon to use the SIMTEX Network solution to conduct Air Force Combat Training Exercises. During three of these AF-wide network defense exercises, over 900 AF net defenders got their “first 10 combat sorties” in network defense.
The SIMTEX Network was used to support the first Joint Service-wide computer network exercise for which EADS NA Defense Security and Systems Solutions, Inc. provided network architecture direction, engineering support, VPN design/support and scenario planning. The SIMTEX Network was used as the "model" for the other Services and EADS NA DS3 was called upon to extend the SIMTEX Network VPN to other Services, providing a Joint Computer Network Range that encompassed all four Services as well as a Global Red Team and an Enterprise Control Center.
A variant of the SIMTEX Network architecture was developed by EADS NA DS3 as an automated network simulator to help train Network Enterprise Controllers at the Keesler AFB Communications Training Center. This simulator emulates the NOSC and NCC environments and provides automated scenarios with which Instructors can train students on understanding the use of Air Force network tools provided by the Combat Information Transport Systems (CITS). The students diagnose the scenario problem and possible causes, then assign personnel to work on the problem and decide what tools to use to fix the problem. Over 600 management level students used an EADS NA Defense Security and Systems Solutions, Inc -designed Advanced Network Defense simulator at Keesler AFB where they learned about and used network operations tools and procedures to manage and defend their "network," certifying them for positions as network crew force commanders.
Over the past year, 605 distant learning students used an EADS NA Defense Security and Systems Solutions, Inc SIMTEX lab at the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) for web based training. The Blended Advanced Distributed Learning Network (BADLNET) provides various courses on network defense operations, tactics, techniques, and procedures.
A new simulator being designed, installed, and managed at Hurlburt AFB would provide AF students training on network warfare CND/CNA/CNE techniques. In the near future this location would be incorporated into the Joint exercises to augment the automated scripted attacks conducted across a Joint Computer Operations Range, providing additional realism, flexibility, and unpredictability.
EADS NA Defense Security and Systems Solutions, Inc developed the solution that provides results. Demonstrated and proven, the SIMTEX Network is a system design that is a flexible yet powerful, technically encompassing yet cost effective, and intense yet practical approach to training network operations and defense techniques supporting any organizational requirement.
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