Thales’ Cyber Range trains for cyber defence

At Eurosatory 2018, MONCh spoke to Thales about their offer for cyber security training, in particular in relations to naval platforms.

“In order to be able to be as protected as possible against a cyber attack, it is key to understand the concept of cyber security thoroughly,” a Thales’ spokesperson told MONCh. “This includes understanding that there are three pillars for cyber defence: the technologies that are being used to protect the systems; the quality of the process of data gathering and analysis for detection; and, the human factor, that is training people so they use the technology as efficiently as possible and make the right decisions.”

To this end, Thales has developed Cyber Range, a simulator that allows Thales to train crews using its systems to be prepared against cyber attacks. Cyber Range allows to digitally replicate the systems of a platform, where possible, and can be connected to the infrastructure that cannot be replicated. As such, crew training to detect and counter a cyber attack on a ship, for instance, can plug Cyber Range to their training infrastructure and use it to learn cyber defence tactics.

“The FREMM ships being built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale), will all be equipped with Thales’ systems, so we are training crews on cyber defence,” continued the spokesperson. “Because the FREMMs will work with ‘double teams’, that is the ships will always be at sea, no ship will be available for training, therefore Cyber Range is an excellent asset to ensure that crew can be trained on land in training centres before boarding their ship.” In this context, Thales will be offering this training in the bases of Toulon, Brest and St Mandrier.