Parsons Hosts Cyber Defense Exercise Supporting NSA for Third Year in a Row

PASADENA, CA (April 12, 2016) – Parsons, a technology-driven engineering services firm with expertise in defense, intelligence, and cybersecurity, is pleased to announce that it is hosting a 4-day (April 11 – 14) information assurance (IA) exercise this week at its cyber center in Columbia, MD. The event is designed to help train participants from military institutions in secure network operations. This hands-on, realistic, team-oriented event, formally known as the Cyber Defense Exercise (CDX), is being run by the National Security Agency (NSA) as part of its commitment to raise awareness among the military’s future leaders about IA challenges and the inherent vulnerabilities of a net-centric world.

“Parsons is pleased to once again host NSA’s annual exercise to develop the next generation of cyber professionals,” stated Mary Ann Hopkins, Parsons Group President. “As we expand our cybersecurity business, we are continually reminded not only of the critical nature of the mission we serve but of the need to share our expertise to ensure the continued protection of our nation’s most sensitive information.”

CDX is the nation’s premier cybersecurity challenge, bringing together more than 150 participants from military institutions. During the exercise, network specialists tasked with securing the U.S. government’s most sensitive communication systems will challenge teams from military institutions in their ability to defend computer networks the participants have designed, built, and configured at their respective institutions. The entire CDX is conducted on a virtual private network, providing a safe path for the exercise while preventing interference with real-world networks. A separate group of specialists will grade each team’s ability to effectively maintain network services while detecting, responding to, and recovering from network security intrusions or compromises. The winning team will be announced on Friday, April 15, at 12 p.m.

In addition to hosting CDX for the third year in a row, Parsons is also providing technical support for CDX preparation and execution. Parsons’ Federal business unit currently serves a broad range of national security customers—including NSA and other key defense and intelligence agencies—in mission-critical technical support, training, and program management. The corporation has also expanded into the state and local government and commercial cybersecurity markets, with a focus on protecting critical infrastructure. Parsons is committed to developing innovative solutions to address the evolving cyber threat faced by energy producers, transportation infrastructure entities, telecommunications companies, and government agencies.

CDX is one example of NSA’s broad IA partnership program, which stimulates interest in IA and advocates for improvements to IA education, training, and awareness. For more information about CDX 2016, contact NSA’s Public and Media Affairs Office by email at [email protected].