UK "Cyber Reserve"

gizmo555

Interesting article on the UK's Cyber Reserve, established in October 2013. It recruits IT and information security experts as military reservists. Is there any equivalent in the RDF?

Today the Cyber Reservists are working alongside regular colleagues, supporting defence’s cyber security. They are taking part in training, exercises and operations helping to assure the safety of critical computer networks, information systems and data by drawing upon the unique skills, experience and expertise that they employ on a day-to-day basis in civilian life. The recruits also get the opportunity to partake in wider service-life experiences such as adventurous training, travel or overseas exercises.

The SO1 of the Joint Cyber Unit (Reserve), Lt Col Michael White, reported, ‘I have been impressed by the level of motivation shown by the recruits during their first real extended exposure to military life. Many have said that they want to give something back to society and specifically they see cyber as being an area where the UK, including the military, is under threat; this is their area of expertise and where they feel they can provide support.

http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/55496

Manach

Tangentially, having read some books on Cybersecurity as sources, there is also the Estonian model. This is more an ad-hoc militia of people with IT skills who act in tandem with the official Security services to counter IT related threats. This evolved from the attack on that countries' infrastructure from what were presumed to be Russia hackers.

BoJack Horseman

with UK telecoms & soon to be electricity generation increasingly imported from China, they are leaving themselves quite open.

I suppose they would need some cyber-defence.

I think there is dome kind of similar unit in the Garda??

on a similar note.... The servers backing the US Naval missile systems (Aegis) were bought by China.
homeland security would like them replaced....
http://news.usni.org/2015/05/05/navy-needs-new-servers-for-aegis-cruisers-and-destroyers-after-chinese-purchase-of-ibm-line

galwaycyclist

gizmo555 wrote: »

Interesting article on the UK's Cyber Reserve, established in October 2013. It recruits IT and information security experts as military reservists. Is there any equivalent in the RDF?

Today the Cyber Reservists are working alongside regular colleagues, supporting defence’s cyber security. They are taking part in training, exercises and operations helping to assure the safety of critical computer networks, information systems and data by drawing upon the unique skills, experience and expertise that they employ on a day-to-day basis in civilian life. The recruits also get the opportunity to partake in wider service-life experiences such as adventurous training, travel or overseas exercises.

The SO1 of the Joint Cyber Unit (Reserve), Lt Col Michael White, reported, ‘I have been impressed by the level of motivation shown by the recruits during their first real extended exposure to military life. Many have said that they want to give something back to society and specifically they see cyber as being an area where the UK, including the military, is under threat; this is their area of expertise and where they feel they can provide support.

http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/55496

It is likely that such a unit could be created quite quickly from IT professionals who are already members of the Irish Defence Forces Reserve. However, as a rule, the Irish permanent force is studiously uninterested in the "civilian" skills of reservists.

Negative_G

galwaycyclist wrote: »

It is likely that such a unit could be created quite quickly from IT professionals who are already members of the Irish Defence Forces Reserve. However, as a rule, the Irish permanent force is studiously uninterested in the "civilian" skills of reservists.

The RDF as it currently exists is nothing but a waste of funding and resources.

I've read many times on this forum from those who pontificate about the reserve and how it is under utilised. The simple reality of the matter is that they fail to offer anything tangible under its current guise unless there is drastic change around employment law amongst many other things.

The days of the RDF are numbered.

galwaycyclist

Negative_G wrote: »

The RDF as it currently exists is nothing but a waste of funding and resources.

I've read many times on this forum from those who pontificate about the reserve and how it is under utilised. The simple reality of the matter is that they fail to offer anything tangible under its current guise unless there is drastic change around employment law amongst many other things.

The days of the RDF are numbered.

I suspect we may be in agreement on some points. However, on the matter of "tangible" offerings and in particular cyber security, I am quite happy in my own mind that the RDF has a capacity that significantly exceeds anything available in the PDF or Garda.

Negative_G

galwaycyclist wrote: »

I suspect we may be in agreement on some points. However, on the matter of "tangible" offerings and in particular cyber security, I am quite happy in my own mind that the RDF has a capacity that significantly exceeds anything available in the PDF or Garda.

I have no doubt. There is plenty of specialist expertise out there amongst personnel.

Fukuyama

What would be the purpose of this for Ireland?

Infrastructure would be Eirgrid and telecoms. Opening that up to DF involvement seems a little OTT. It's not like we have anything fancy such as missile bases or satellites etc... Theoretically the Russians, Chinese or whoever could probably hack their way into Eirgrid and send the whole country into darkness.

Not in the Defence Forces so couldn't even comment on what the existing capability is. But, judging by Irish governmental IT standards in general I'd say they're eons behind the MoD.

What would be a good idea is a more specialized reserve force on the whole where people are recruited post-college for their skill set. Engineers, IT professionals, medical staff, etc... They would all be very useful when it comes to getting an infrastructure (or a temporary one) back up after a natural disaster/hack/conflict etc....

I was going to join the reserves years ago when I was 18 but the recruitment ban came into effect (2009 I think). I couldn't be arsed with it now as it seems to be a bunch of leaving cert students messing about with a small core of dedicated, skilled members who are either ex-PDF or skilled professionals.

In general the average 17 year old lad is drawn to infantry and the RDF scratches that itch. But it provides fcuk all use to the country. Even sandbagging and flood relief is done by the PDF as they seem to be the only ones than can get a job done. I'd say anyone in a qualified role would be more interested in technical jobs that the UK army offers.

discus

galwaycyclist wrote: »

It is likely that such a unit could be created quite quickly from IT professionals who are already members of the Irish Defence Forces Reserve. However, as a rule, the Irish permanent force is studiously uninterested in the "civilian" skills of reservists.

Which is a pity, I reckon that with Ireland's small size, it would be even easier for reserve cyber unit to be brought into the fold. Especially since our infrastructure doesn't (as previously mentioned above) have much in the way of nukes or missiles. We may need to take stronger cyber defence seriously if the nukes in scotland are moved to Northern Ireland, or we will end up as another vector for cyber warfare.

gizmo555

Fukuyama wrote: »

What would be the purpose of this for Ireland?

Infrastructure would be Eirgrid and telecoms.

Well, there's more to it than that - e.g., financial systems and services. Maybe the Army could actually be guarding the ATMs, just not quite in the way Enda had in mind in his Madrid speech.

And of course the thing that wasn't addressed in the article I linked to is the possible use of such a reserve for "offensive" as well as "defensive" purposes, such as intelligence gathering.

Ren2k7

Ireland has the National Cyber Security Centre run out of the Dept. of Communications that works alongside the Signal Corps......

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is a government computer security organisation in Ireland, under the umbrella of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The NCSC was developed in 2013 and formally established by the Irish government in July 2015. It is responsible for Ireland's cyber security, with primary focus on securing government networks, protecting critical national infrastructure (CNI), and assisting businesses and citizens in protecting their own systems.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cyber_Security_Centre_(Ireland)

Manach

Thanks for above link. However one might question the effectiveness of such an organisation, leaving aside the usual qualms about state bodies, which does not seem to have any impact on the wider consiousness of the Irish IT/Business community which would have a more forward facing engagement with daily Cyber security issues.

L.Jenkins

I have a Degree in Software Engineering with some focus in Security and 10 years experience in the Electrical Industry. I couldn't do a thing without anyone in the PDF having a shit fit, despite my qualifications and experience. I've worked with Engineers, Tradesmen, Accountants, IT Professionals and Personnel with other qualifications and we couldn't do a thing besides square bash.

The Reserves are the greatest waste of resources, not money that the Country has.

Negative_G

Itzy wrote: »

I have a Degree in Software Engineering with some focus in Security and 10 years experience in the Electrical Industry. I couldn't do a thing without anyone in the PDF having a shit fit, despite my qualifications and experience. I've worked with Engineers, Tradesmen, Accountants, IT Professionals and Personnel with other qualifications and we couldn't do a thing besides square bash.

The Reserves are the greatest waste of resources, not money that the Country has.

For every one of you (a highly skilled worker), how many other non high skilled members (from a DF perspective) is there?

To brand the entire reserves as a waste of resources, as oppoasd to funds is a little unfair. There is a small but talented element present obviously but this in no way paints a picture for the entire RDF.

I still think that the RDF in its current form and the way it is used is a complete waste of money. We do not need a reserve force. We have a small, capable army of full time professional soldiers that at least from the outside appear more than capable of carrying out all the functions both at home and overseas.

My understanding is that when people retire they are put on a reserve list for a set number of years so that if a situation arose whereby a bulk in numbers is required, it can be drawn from here. I am open to correction on this.

L.Jenkins

Negative_G wrote: »

To brand the entire reserves as a waste of resources, as oppoasd to funds is a little unfair. There is a small but talented element present obviously but this in no way paints a picture for the entire RDF.

I meant to convey that the RDF as a resource, has been left to waste away (The well trained and highly qualified segment anyway.). You have a point in saying the organisation as a whole, is a waste of money, but it's also time and effort the DF could divert to something else. You can be sure that not one Reserve, in uniform, was on the streets with the DF, assisting with efforts on the ground during the current flooding for "Insurance reasons". So no value for money is being derived from the RDF in the slightest. The only reserves that any value is derived from, is the NSR.

Negative_G

Itzy wrote: »

I meant to convey that the RDF as a resource, has been left to waste away (The well trained and highly qualified segment anyway.). You have a point in saying the organisation as a whole, is a waste of money, but it's also time and effort the DF could divert to something else. You can be sure that not one Reserve, in uniform, was on the streets with the DF, assisting with efforts on the ground during the current flooding for "Insurance reasons". So no value for money is being derived from the RDF in the slightest. The only reserves that any value is derived from, is the NSR.

I am fairly sure, and I welcome clarification on it, that there was at least one army reserve personnel assisting in the flood relief operation in Athlone recently.

Quick google refers to this;

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/further-danger-as-shannon-levels-set-to-peak-on-monday-1.2465311

whether or not the journalist is being factually correct is debatable but it would seem that some RDF made themselves available. At the very least it shows a willingness to get stuck in when called upon which is to be commended.

hmmm

Fukuyama wrote: »

What would be the purpose of this for Ireland?

The UK have realised that cyber security is a protection of national infrastructure issue, and the Military/MIx should be helping large or critical firms to protect their systems - they are very involved obviously in the utilities area, but also financial firms, major hospital groups, universities/research institutions. A national entity has much more visibility of the actions of attackers than a single firm might. The threat of a physical attack on the UK by a state actor is low, but there is a high threat that they could try to steal sensitive information, or disrupt financial networks to cause damage, all with plausible deniability.

We're a million miles away from recognising this threat in this country, State orgs do little or nothing to assist private/public sector cybersecurity. They put out a lot of glossy position papers however, I'm sure it keeps them busy.

galwaycyclist

Negative_G wrote: »

I am fairly sure, and I welcome clarification on it, that there was at least one army reserve personnel assisting in the flood relief operation in Athlone recently.

Quick google refers to this;

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/further-danger-as-shannon-levels-set-to-peak-on-monday-1.2465311

whether or not the journalist is being factually correct is debatable but it would seem that some RDF made themselves available. At the very least it shows a willingness to get stuck in when called upon which is to be commended.

A platoon of RDF spent yesterday filling sandbags in Galway for distribution to flood hit areas. There was another platoon in on Sat 12th December filling sandbags and loading them onto trucks.

galwaycyclist

galwaycyclist wrote: »

A platoon of RDF spent yesterday filling sandbags in Galway for distribution to flood hit areas. There was another platoon in on Sat 12th December filling sandbags and loading them onto trucks.

We're famous (kind of)

http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2016/01/06/4112129-armys-response-to-galway-flooding-crisis/

galwaycyclist

galwaycyclist wrote: »

We're famous (kind of)

http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2016/01/06/4112129-armys-response-to-galway-flooding-crisis/

But to get back to the original topic. There are at least three people in that photograph with third level qualifications in IT/Electronics two of whom work full time in the industry.

Including one person who works for a US IT company that has a Global Cyber Security unit attached to its Galway office.

Edit: There are two RDF members in this office only one of these is in this photo