Defend Forward: 2019 Critical Infrastructure War Game

About this Event

This war game will explore the relationship between senior leaders in the finance and energy sectors and the U.S. government. Participants will include private sector executives, senior government officials and experts from the cyber analytic communities.

The aim is to help develop the best means to secure the national critical infrastructure and achieve the national security objectives articulated in the Summary of the 2018 Department of Defense Cyber Strategy. This unclassified war game will be played at the strategic level. It will simulate interactions between the private sector, U.S. government and cyber adversaries during three phases:

1. Managing routine daily attacks on critical infrastructure,
2. Preparing defenses against cyber-attacks during an international crisis, and
3. Responding to an extended cyber campaign.

The game examines the best role for the DoD and the government in safeguarding these sectors, explores the needs of the finance and energy sector in combating cyber attacks and looks at how different actors and types of competition affect a successful defend forward strategy. Additionally, the game provides a structured means for leaders in the finance and energy sectors to work with U.S. government officials as they implement the 2018 National Cyber Strategy and the Summary Defense Cyberspace Strategy.