Enhance Your Cyber Readiness: Embrace Resiliency Today!

WASHINGTON — This October commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Department of Defense’s Cyber Security Awareness Month, emphasizing the crucial role individuals play as “Cyber Warriors” in the Navy’s operations.

As Cyber Security Awareness month progresses, reflections on cybersecurity’s essential contribution to the Navy’s warfighting and business objectives take center stage. A new message will be communicated every Monday, focusing on different facets of cybersecurity and the importance of individual roles within it. The actions taken by all—from fire control technicians to contracting officers—are vital to the mission’s success and the Navy’s cyber security framework.

Admiral Michael Gilday’s “North Star” statement highlights the necessity for the Navy to be more combat-ready by 2027, an effort that requires prioritizing challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China and enhancing joint warfighting capabilities. Strengthening the Navy’s cyber defenses and resilience is imperative to maintain operability in a challenging cyber landscape. Per the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, China remains the foremost and persistent cyber threat to U.S. government, private sector, and critical infrastructure systems.

Currently, state-backed cyber actors continue their attempts to embed within our IT networks, seeking opportunities for disruptive or destructive cyber operations. The Navy must thus be prepared to respond to sustained and aggressive cyber actions targeting both infrastructure and military assets. A crucial aspect of this preparation lies in bolstering cyber resiliency, defined as the capacity to anticipate, confront, recover from, and adjust to adversarial actions on systems.

The objective is ensuring that essential systems consistently deliver capabilities and fulfill missions in contested cyber settings. By developing resilience, the Navy fortifies its readiness and adaptability. Cyber resiliency is fundamental to achieving Admiral Gilday’s vision and thriving amidst the globally interconnected combat landscape of the 21st century.