Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security - Attack and Defense Exercises

Abstract : This effort developed the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). It began in 2002 and was designed to build a center focusing on cyber security/information assurance issues at UTSA. The effort involved a number of cyber security/information assurance research projects. This encouraged faculty members to begin successful research activities in the area of cyber security. This was successful and a number of projects were begun which in turn helped to attract other researchers. One of the significant research activities was the development of a community cyber security exercise and the more technical attack/defend exercise concept. This led to a project which began to focus on the continued sustainment of the center and its focus on exercises. This eventually led to the development of the Community Cyber Security Maturity Model (CCSMM) which provides a structure for communities to use in evaluating their current cyber security posture as well as a roadmap to follow for them to improve their posture.