Protecting the cyber warfront

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hill
California National Guard Public Affairs

May 2, 2022

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Army National Guard cyber and information specialists are preparing for a Department of Defense Command Cyber Readiness Inspection in armories across the state, August 2022.

"For the Soldier in the field, it really matters because those same systems support them every day in everything from force protection to pay and promotions," said U.S. Army Col. James Parsons, cyber and chief information officer at Joint Forces Headquarters.

To prepare, the signal and communications staff at Joint Forces Headquarters are heightening awareness on key physical and cyber security procedures, as well as preparing for the self-assessment report to Army Cyber Command, due this month.

During the CCRI, inspectors from DOD will travel to CAARNG armories to inspect compliance and awareness of physical and traditional security standard, handling of controlled unclassified information, physical security measures, and training and awareness.

While many Soldiers understand the importance of practicing OPSEC and cyber security while at work, many forget to apply this in their personal lives, especially when posting on social media, said Parsons.

"Threat actors harvest this data and can compile detailed patterns of life that aide them in targeting Soldiers or understanding troop movements," he said.

The inspection, which takes place every three years, assesses commanders’ attitude and awareness of security measures, as well as to ensure they follow the DOD standards in areas of Command, Mission, Threat, and Vulnerability — when it comes to the handling of both electronic and printed material.

While many believe that this is mainly a test of signal and communications staff, it is truly a test of the California Army National Guard as a whole, explained Chief Warrant Officer 4 Mario Garcia, a signal officer at JFHQ.

“At the Soldier and end-user level it's often leaving their computers and their common access card unattended,” Said Garcia.  “It's also not knowing how to report a cyber incident, whether it’s a possible phishing attack, malicious software, or classified or Personally Identifiable Information spillage. “

The last few years have been busy for the California National Guard, which can sometimes result in mission fatigue and complacency. This is why having inspections like these are crucial to maintaining readiness, said Garcia.

“It’s critical that all CA ARNG personnel do their part, and it starts with the overall attitude of the entire Command.  Insider threat is a real phenomenon,” he said.