Technology has been a game-changer in the way we live, work, and interact. The advent of the internet and widespread computer usage have transformed our world.
But let’s take a trip down memory lane. Back in the 1960s, a house had to be big enough to fit a computer that could actually calculate something useful. Fast forward to 1988, and Bruce Willis’ character John McClane used a touch screen in Nakatomi Plaza to locate his wife, only to find out she’d changed her name to Holly Gennaro.
Touch screens weren’t available to the masses until the release of the first iPhone in 2007, which was way more powerful than that clunky 1960s computer that needed a whole house to itself. Since then, computing power has skyrocketed and now controls every aspect of our lives.
However, as technology advances, so do the risks that come with it. Nowadays, computers and software control everything from electricity and water to payment systems, homes, cars, and communication systems. The list goes on and on. All of these systems operate thanks to computing power and software.
Unfortunately, we’ve reached a point where cybersecurity has become one of the most significant challenges faced by individuals, organisations, and societies today. If just one link in this complex chain fails, these systems can become inoperable, resulting in anything from minor inconvenience to the loss of fortunes or even lives.
One innovative technology that has emerged to combat these challenges is the CYBER RANGE.
A cyber range is an innovative piece of technology – a bundle of software and large amount of computing power – that simulates a real-world environment for the purpose of training and testing cybersecurity professionals. To put it simply – a cyber range enables an organisation to create virtual environments where the operators can manipulate software programs so that nothing happens in real world. The lights stay on and systems remain functional, although a full scale cyberattack has been been just launched on the cyber range. It is isolated from the real world but operates in software terms just like one.
Cyber ranges allow security teams to train in a safe and controlled environment, replicating realistic scenarios that they may encounter in the real world. The cyber range enables security professionals to practice responding to cyber threats in a realistic environment, allowing them to hone their skills and practice the protection of their machines, systems and organisations from cyber attacks. It also also enables enterprises to test software, run AI or build simulators to operate satellites if there is a wish and need.
Cyber ranges are widely utilised within the defence sector, but are quickly becoming tools that are used in academia, commerce, smart cities, industries, local governments, critical infrastructures and elsewhere. The use-cases of cyber ranges are endless since the combinations of software programs are endless.
Historically, innovative technologies have revolutionised the way we live our lives. The steam engine transformed transportation, the telephone revolutionised communication, and the internet has transformed our access to information. In a similar vein, cyber ranges have the potential to revolutionise the way cybersecurity is approached.