Secret Service conducts cyber incident simulation

The Secret Service recently hosted a virtual Cyber Incident Response Simulation officials focused on ransomware attack and mitigation strategies.

“Recognizing the dynamic nature of this threat, President Trump has made it a priority to build strong and robust cybersecurity across the federal government,” Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad F. Wolf said. “Developing robust partnerships with our state and local colleagues is critical to meeting that priority and accomplishing our shared goal of protecting the nation’s cyberinfrastructure. Your participation in this exercise is indicative of your commitment to keeping the Homeland safe from virtual threats.”

The effort involved state and municipal government personnel. The training was the fourth of its kind and the second virtual event aimed at the agency’s Cyber Fraud Task Force (CFTF) partners.

“Fighting cybercrime requires a ‘whole of society’ approach,” Secret Service Director James Murray said. “It absolutely necessitates that all stakeholders – private and public, federal, state, county and local – work together towards the prevention of, response to, and recovery from cyber incidents,”

Murray said the simulation provided a chance to learn about processes, strengths, and successes – and capitalize on each other’s lessons learned to move more effectively when the time comes to respond.

The training offered executives who play an active part in their organization’s cyber incident response to a simulated scenario to enhance planning, collaboration, and information sharing between private organizations and the Secret Service.