Cyber Polygon & Cyber Storm VI: Simulating Cyber Resilience

Understanding Cybersecurity Simulation Exercises: From Cyber Polygon to Cyber Storm

Cybersecurity is a high-stakes field where preparedness is as important as prevention. With threats evolving daily, public and private sectors alike have increasingly turned to simulation exercises as a means to stress-test their defenses, refine response strategies, and learn from adverse scenarios—all without the cost and danger of real-world incidents. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into two influential simulation exercises: the Cyber Polygon “cyber pandemic” simulation organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and partners, and the U.S. Cyber Storm VI national cyber exercise led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). We’ll explore their objectives, methodologies, real-world implications, and even share sample code snippets to illustrate how cybersecurity professionals can leverage technological tools to monitor and analyze events. Whether you’re new to the field or an experienced practitioner, this post will offer valuable insights into the world of cybersecurity simulations.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Cybersecurity Simulations
2. Cyber Polygon: Simulating a “Cyber Pandemic”
   • Background and Objectives
   • Key Findings and Implications
   • European Parliament’s Parliamentary Question
3. Cyber Storm VI: National Cyber Exercise
   • Exercise Overview
   • Exercise Objectives and Outcomes
   • Collaboration and Public-Private Partnerships
4. The Role of Simulations in Modern Cybersecurity
   • Learning from Simulated Cyber Attacks
   • Enhancing Incident Response Capabilities
5. Real-World Examples and Code Samples
   • Using Bash for Network Scanning
   • Parsing Log Output with Python
6. Challenges and Future Directions
7. Conclusion
8. References

Introduction to Cybersecurity Simulations

In recent years, cyber threats have grown not only in volume but also in sophistication, targeting critical infrastructure, supply chains, governments, and private businesses. To counter these evolving risks, organizations have embraced simulation exercises—controlled, simulated cyber incidents designed to rigorously test the resilience and readiness of cybersecurity protocols, systems, and teams.

Simulations, whether in the form of tabletop exercises, red team versus blue team activities, or full-scale “cyber pandemic” scenarios, provide a structured environment to examine:

• The robustness of supply chains and critical infrastructure
• The efficacy of response plans
• The degree of coordination between public and private sectors
• Policies and regulatory measures needed to safeguard digital assets

In our discussion today, we’ll take a closer look at two simulation exercises that have garnered attention across international policy circles and technical communities:

1. Cyber Polygon – ‘Cyber Pandemic’ Simulation: Organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in collaboration with global partners. It simulated a massive, coordinated cyber attack affecting a company’s supply chain, with repercussions compared to a cyber pandemic.
2. Cyber Storm VI: A nationally coordinated exercise led by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that simulated a large-scale cyber attack impacting the nation's critical infrastructure.

Both exercises illustrate the critical nature of preparedness in an ever-changing threat landscape, reinforcing how practical training is essential for robust cyber defense mechanisms.

Cyber Polygon: Simulating a “Cyber Pandemic”

Background and Objectives

On July 9, 2021, the World Economic Forum (WEF) hosted a simulation exercise that drew global attention. The exercise, dubbed a “cyber pandemic” simulation, was the third of its kind in the year. The simulation involved:

• Replicating a Large-Scale Cyber Attack: A scenario where a cyber attack targets a company’s supply chain, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of modern business.
• Real-Time Response and Coordination: Teams were tasked with responding to the breach as it unfolded, thereby testing the resilience of cybersecurity defenses and the efficiency of crisis management procedures.
• Supply Chain Vulnerability Focus: As corporations become more intertwined with global suppliers and third-party vendors, a successful cyber attack on one node can have cascading effects across many sectors.

The simulation was designed to mimic a “pandemic” in the cyber space—not by biological means but through digital contagion, wherein the attack rapidly spreads through interconnected networks and systems.

Key Findings and Implications

Several key findings emerged from the Cyber Polygon simulation:

1. Interconnectivity Risks: The exercise confirmed that interconnected supply chains are the prime targets for modern cyber attackers. A breach in one part of a network can quickly spiral out of control if proper isolation or segmentation measures are not in place.

2. Complexity of Incident Response: Responding to a rapidly evolving cyber incident requires real-time decision making and collaboration among multiple stakeholders—from IT and cybersecurity teams to executive management and external partners.

3. Importance of Information Sharing: One recurring theme was the need for transparent and swift communication among stakeholders to manage the crisis. The effectiveness of the simulation hinged on how well different parties could share threat intelligence and coordinate responses.

4. Potential Economic Impact: The simulation showcased the far-reaching economic consequences that can arise from cyber disruptions. This includes not only immediate operational losses but also longer-term impacts on trust, market stability, and the broader digital economy.

5. Regulatory and Policy Implications: Given the simulation’s scale and complexity, regulators—including the European Commission—are increasingly interested in its findings to inform future cybersecurity policies. Specifically, a Parliamentary question (E-004762/2021) was raised in the European Parliament to inquire about the simulation’s results, the extent of European Commission involvement, and the broader implications for EU member states and their digital economies.

European Parliament’s Parliamentary Question

A Parliamentary question (E-004762/2021), submitted by MEP Christine Anderson, brought significant attention to the Cyber Polygon simulation. The key components of this Parliamentary question can be summarized as follows:

1. Awareness and Assessment: The question inquired whether the European Commission was aware of the simulation’s results and what their interpretation of those results was. Given that the simulation mimicked a global cyber pandemic, there was significant interest in understanding how these insights could influence EU-wide cybersecurity policies.

2. Commission Involvement: The query sought clarity on the role played by Commission representatives during the simulation and whether they were directly involved, informed, or engaged with the exercise’s progression.

3. Impact on Digital Ecosystems: Lastly, the question probed the Commission’s assessment regarding the impact of such a cyber scenario on member states, businesses, citizens, and even the secure usage of digital currencies as a potential cash substitute. This component is particularly crucial as digital currencies become more mainstream and, consequently, attractive targets for cybercriminals.

The focus in this Parliamentary question underscores the nexus between simulation exercises and legislative oversight. It highlights how policymakers are actively bridging the gap between theoretical cyber threats and practical, actionable intelligence obtained through simulations like Cyber Polygon.

Cyber Storm VI: National Cyber Exercise

Exercise Overview

While the Cyber Polygon simulation provided an international perspective on cyber preparedness, the United States has long recognized the importance of national-level exercises. One such exercise is Cyber Storm VI, conducted by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in April 2018.

Cyber Storm VI was a five-day exercise designed to simulate a multi-sector cyber crisis with both national and international implications. Key aspects of Cyber Storm VI include:

• National Scope: The exercise featured the coordinated efforts of more than 1,000 participants nationwide, representing federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies as well as private industry.
• Critical Infrastructure Focus: Cyber Storm VI simulated a large-scale cyber incident that impacted critical infrastructure including manufacturing, transportation, communications, law enforcement, and financial services.
• Crisis Management and Coordination: The exercise aimed to test and improve the communication channels, coordination mechanisms, and overall readiness of the U.S. cyber incident response capabilities.

Exercise Objectives and Outcomes

Cyber Storm VI was geared toward evaluating and enhancing the nation’s cyber incident response. The exercise’s specific objectives were:

1. Testing the National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP): One primary goal was to assess the effectiveness of the NCIRP—ensuring that the existing mechanisms for discovering, coordinating, and responding to cyber incidents were robust and efficient under the simulated pressure.

2. Evaluating Information Sharing Protocols: The exercise examined thresholds, communication paths, and the timeliness of information sharing channels. Participants had to navigate the complexities of internal and external information exchange, a crucial element in any crisis scenario.

3. Reinforcing Public-Private Partnerships: By bringing government agencies and private sector partners together, Cyber Storm VI fostered stronger relationships which are essential in real-world incidents where coordinated responses can save critical infrastructure from severe disruption.

4. Integrating Critical Infrastructure Partners: Given that nations rely on 16 critical infrastructure sectors ranging from energy to communications, the exercise ensured that these entities were not only represented but actively participated in scenario planning and response activities.

Collaboration and Public-Private Partnerships

One of the hallmarks of Cyber Storm VI was its emphasis on a “whole-of-community” response. The exercise was designed to have a broad cross-section of participants that included:

• Federal Agencies: Primarily led by CISA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ensuring that national directives are effectively implemented.
• State and Local Governments: Critical for implementing localized responses and ensuring that regional critical infrastructure is secure.
• Industry Leaders and Private Sector Partners: Vital for sharing cutting-edge technological insights, best practices, and innovative response strategies.
• International Partners and Collaborators: As cyber threats do not respect national borders, international collaboration continues to be a key element in comprehensive cybersecurity strategies.

The success of Cyber Storm VI lies in its ability to simulate a realistic scenario where diverse entities must coordinate seamlessly in both planning and execution—a scenario that mirrors potential real-world cyber catastrophes.

The Role of Simulations in Modern Cybersecurity

Simulation exercises like Cyber Polygon and Cyber Storm VI are not merely academic exercises; they play an integral role in shaping the cybersecurity posture of nations and organizations alike. Here’s why these simulations are so valuable:

Learning from Simulated Cyber Attacks

Simulated cyber attacks provide a controlled environment where errors and oversights can be analyzed without the disastrous consequences of an actual breach. Participants can:

• Identify Weaknesses: Through realistic scenarios, vulnerabilities in both technical systems and organizational protocols can be exposed.
• Test New Technologies and Protocols: Use of cutting-edge security solutions, updated incident response plans, and new communication platforms can be stress-tested during these exercises.
• Build Confidence: Teams that repeatedly engage in simulations tend to develop stronger instincts and quicker reaction times, which are crucial when a real incident strikes.

Enhancing Incident Response Capabilities

When a genuine cyber incident occurs, the value of a practiced and well-coordinated response cannot be overstated. Effective simulations help organizations to:

• Improve Coordination: By simulating multi-agency and multi-sector responses, organizations learn how to streamline communications and share actionable intelligence in real time.
• Establish Communication Protocols: In both exercises, communication bottlenecks and information silos were identified and addressed through iterative improvements.
• Foster Adaptability: In the face of rapidly evolving threats, simulation exercises help participants adapt their strategies on the fly, ensuring continued resilience.

Moreover, simulations often lead to the updating of policies and regulatory frameworks, as highlighted by the European Parliamentary question related to Cyber Polygon. These exercises provide policymakers with essential data and insights to shape future cybersecurity regulations.

Real-World Examples and Code Samples

Apart from strategic exercises and policy implications, technical professionals rely on a suite of tools for monitoring, scanning, and analyzing their systems for potential vulnerabilities. Below, we include some real-world inspired code samples that demonstrate basic scanning and log parsing—practices that might be used during or after a simulated attack.

Using Bash for Network Scanning

Network scanning is a crucial first step in identifying potential vulnerabilities. Below is an example of a Bash script using Nmap—a popular network scanning tool—to perform an aggressive scan on a target IP address.

#!/bin/bash

# Define the target IP or hostname
TARGET="192.168.1.1"

# Perform an aggressive scan with Nmap to detect open ports, services, versions, and scripts
echo "Starting Nmap scan on ${TARGET}..."
nmap -A ${TARGET} -oN nmap_scan_results.txt

# Check if the scan completed successfully
if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
    echo "Nmap scan completed. Results saved in nmap_scan_results.txt"
else
    echo "An error occurred during the Nmap scan."
fi

This script:

• Sets a target IP address
• Runs Nmap with the “-A” flag for aggressive scanning
• Saves the output to a file for later analysis

Such scanning is often part of the preparation for red team activities during simulations, helping teams assess the surface area available to attackers.

Parsing Log Output with Python

After a simulated attack, logs and outputs are critical for post-mortem analysis. Python can be very effective for parsing these logs. Consider the following Python script which parses an Nmap output file (in XML format) to list open ports:

import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET

def parse_nmap_xml(file_path):
    # Parse the XML file
    tree = ET.parse(file_path)
    root = tree.getroot()

    # Iterate through each host
    for host in root.findall('host'):
        # Retrieve IP address
        address = host.find('address').attrib.get('addr')
        
        # Retrieve open ports
        ports = host.find('ports')
        if ports:
            print(f"Host: {address}")
            for port in ports.findall('port'):
                port_id = port.attrib.get('portid')
                protocol = port.attrib.get('protocol')
                state = port.find('state').attrib.get('state')
                service = port.find('service').attrib.get('name') if port.find('service') is not None else "unknown"
                print(f"\tPort: {port_id}/{protocol} is {state} - Service: {service}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Specify the path to the XML file generated by Nmap
    xml_file = "nmap_scan_results.xml"
    parse_nmap_xml(xml_file)

This Python code:

• Uses the built-in XML library to parse the Nmap XML results
• Extracts the host IP, port number, protocol, state (open/closed), and service details
• Prints the details in a structured format

Such automation helps cybersecurity teams rapidly analyze scan results during or after a simulated incident, determining which systems may have been compromised or remain vulnerable.

Challenges and Future Directions

Challenges in Simulation Exercises

While simulations provide many benefits, they also face several challenges:

1. Realism vs. Control: Striking the right balance between realistic scenarios and a controlled environment is a challenge. Too much realism might lead to unmanageable chaos, while too much control can skew the exercise, limiting the learning experience.

2. Scalability and Complexity: As cyber threats evolve, simulations must adapt quickly. Exercises that are too simplistic may not adequately prepare teams for the dynamic, multi-vector attacks seen in the wild.

3. Interoperability: In multinational and multi-agency simulations, interoperability between different systems and protocols becomes essential. Seamless communication is required to ensure that every stakeholder—from government agencies to cross-border private firms—can coordinate effectively.

4. Resource Constraints: Running a full-scale simulation requires substantial resources—both in terms of time and manpower. Smaller organizations may find it challenging to allocate the required resources for comprehensive exercises.

Future Directions in Cybersecurity Simulations

Looking ahead, cybersecurity simulations are expected to evolve in both scale and sophistication. Some future trends include:

• Increased Integration of AI/ML: Artificial intelligence and machine learning systems will be increasingly integrated into simulations to predict threat behavior, automate responses, and simulate more adaptive adversaries.
• Cloud-Based Simulations: As cloud services continue to dominate IT infrastructure, simulation platforms that mimic cloud environments will become essential to test incident responses in these environments.
• Collaborative International Exercises: With cyber threats not respecting national borders, we can expect more international collaborations and joint exercises, similar to Cyber Storm’s inclusion of international partners and Cyber Polygon’s global scope.
• Increased Emphasis on Supply Chain Security: The Cyber Polygon simulation highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains. Future simulations are likely to focus deeply on testing the resilience of supply chains across various sectors.
• Enhanced Training with Mixed Reality Technologies: Incorporating virtual and augmented reality technologies can enhance the training experience, providing immersive environments that simulate real-world conditions more effectively.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity simulation exercises like Cyber Polygon and Cyber Storm VI are pivotal in strengthening our collective defense against cyber threats. They serve multiple purposes—from stress-testing supply chains and response procedures to fostering communication between diverse stakeholders and shaping cyber policy. These exercises have practical, real-world impacts, making them essential components in both the strategic arms of government and the operational toolkits of enterprises.

For policymakers, the European Parliamentary questions regarding Cyber Polygon serve as a reminder that simulations offer invaluable insights which can drive robust regulatory frameworks. For cybersecurity professionals, the hands-on technical elements—from network scanning with Bash to log parsing with Python—underscore the importance of continuous learning and preparedness.

By embracing well-designed simulation exercises, organizations can ensure that when the next cyber crisis arises, their response will be swift, coordinated, and effective—minimizing disruption and safeguarding our digital future.

References

• European Parliament – Parliamentary question E-004762/2021 (PDF)
• World Economic Forum – Cyber Polygon Simulation
• CISA – Cyber Storm VI Official Page
• CISA – Cybersecurity Resources and Tools

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, preparedness is not just an option—it’s a necessity. Whether through international collaboration or national exercises, simulation-based training continues to be a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity. By learning from exercises like Cyber Polygon and Cyber Storm VI, organizations around the world can better safeguard their ecosystems, ensuring stability in an era where digital threats are ever-present.

Stay prepared, stay secure!