Page 18 - The Dispatch September 2018

TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT

Guardsmen Work to

Manage Digital Damage

Story By: Caitlin Rourk idly developing field. Recently, the Texas National Guard
Texas Military Department Public Affairs participated in Jack Voltaic 2.0, a large-scale cybersecurity
exercise that took place in Houston in July 2018, bringing
AUSTIN, Texas - As data breaches and cyberattacks grow together partners from across Texas and the United States
in scale and frequency, the Texas National Guard is striv- to take part in the realistic scenario that married domestic
ing to stay ahead of the threat. Although “cyber” is per- disaster preparedness and cybersecurity.
haps the most buzzed-about term in the U.S. military, not
to mention across the government and the private sector, One of the most important keys to success in the cyber
according to Lt. Col. Kristy Leasman, cyber—which is short realm is cultivating partnerships and shared understand-
for cybersecurity—remains decidedly misunderstood. She ing. Leasman, 273rd Cyber Operations Squadron com-
notes the important differentiation between cyber and mander, who just returned from a joint cyber event in Cro-
the communications and signal functions. The latter focus- atia, remarked at the progress the Texas National Guard
es on access and availability, like making sure a network is has made forming cyber partnerships, particularly when
running or email is up, whereas cyber is concerned with it comes to working with State Partnership Program part-
ensuring everything is being done securely. ners. Texas has conducted cybertraining with the Czech
Republic for years, but collaboration on cyber with Chile,
According to the Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Texas’ other SPP partner, is relatively new. After a recent
government agencies reported 30,899 information securi- visit to South America in late August, Secretary of Defense
ty incidents in fiscal year 2016. Although most never make James Mattis reported that Chile lobbied for greater co-
the news, cyber professionals pay close attention to these operation with the Texas National Guard, particularly to
developments and identify lessons learned. Maj. Chris protect its cyber domain, which may expedite U.S.-Chilean
Winnek, joint cyber operations chief for the Texas Military cyber collaboration.
Department, points to the 2018 cyberattack on Atlanta
as a particularly cautionary tale, noting that Texas and its “When I first started, I felt like our partners had a lot of
partners learn a great deal from such incidents. As cyber- really smart people and elite forces that they just didn’t
attacks are only expected to become more widespread, know what to do with. Now, roll forward to 2018, they’re
the Texas National Guard regularly learns from and trains doing exceptionally well, and they have a cybersecurity
alongside its partners, who share best practices in this rap- plan,” Leasman said.

18 TheDISPATCH SEPTEMBER 2018