This week, cybersecurity professionals from across government, military and partner organizations came together at the Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University for Cyber Dawg, a hands-on cyber defense exercise designed to put real-world skills to the test.
A joint initiative of the Georgia Technology Authority’s Office of Information Security and the Georgia Department of Defense, Cyber Dawg brings professionals into a high-pressure environment, using our Cyber Range, where they can practice defending networks, investigating threats and responding to cyber incidents alongside their peers.
And there was no shortage of activity inside the Georgia Cyber Center this week.
Putting Cyber Defense Skills to the Test
Cyber Dawg is built around realistic cyber defense scenarios. Rather than simply talking about what to do during a cyber incident, participants spend the week actively working through simulated attacks and making decisions as situations unfold.
Participants worked through activities including:
- Detecting and analyzing cyber incidents
- Hunting for threats and investigating suspicious activity
- Analyzing logs and validating alerts
- Conducting forensic analysis
- Sharing cyber threat intelligence
- Coordinating team-based incident response
- Making decisions under pressure
The exercise uses a complex sandbox environment that incorporates real-world internet traffic and captured IP blocks associated with cyber activity from countries including Iran, China, Russia and North Korea. The result is an environment designed to challenge participants with the types of activity they may encounter in an operational setting.
Bringing Cybersecurity Professionals Together
One of the most valuable parts of Cyber Dawg is the opportunity to work alongside professionals who may approach cybersecurity from a different perspective.
The exercise brings together more than 20 state agencies, select local government organizations, military participants from the Army, Air National Guard and active-duty units, cybersecurity professionals from allied countries and private-sector experts who provide technical support and mentorship.
That mix reflects the reality of cybersecurity today. Defending an organization rarely happens in isolation. It requires communication, information sharing and collaboration across agencies, organizations and sectors.
Why the Georgia Cyber Center?
Hosting an exercise like Cyber Dawg at the Georgia Cyber Center is a natural fit.
The Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University was created to bring government, military, academia and industry together under one roof. Located in Augusta alongside Fort Gordon and the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, the campus is part of a broader cybersecurity ecosystem that supports training, workforce development, research, innovation and collaboration.
Throughout the year, the Georgia Cyber Center hosts cybersecurity training, exercises, conferences, meetings and other events that bring people from across Georgia and beyond to Augusta.
Cyber Dawg is another example of that mission in action.
For the professionals participating in the exercise, the week provided an opportunity to sharpen technical skills and practice responding to evolving threats. For the broader cybersecurity community, it created a space for professionals to learn from one another, share information and strengthen relationships that matter when a real incident occurs.
Building a More Resilient Cybersecurity Community
Cybersecurity is constantly changing. The threats organizations face today require professionals to continually develop their skills, test their processes and prepare for what could happen next.
Hands-on exercises like Cyber Dawg provide an important opportunity to do exactly that.
By bringing government, military and industry professionals together in a realistic environment, Cyber Dawg helps participants turn cybersecurity knowledge into practical experience. And by taking place at the Georgia Cyber Center, the exercise adds to the ongoing work happening in Augusta to strengthen cybersecurity training, collaboration and workforce development across Georgia.
The Georgia Cyber Center is proud to serve as a place where cybersecurity professionals can come together, put their skills to work and prepare for the challenges ahead.
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