New front lines: the defense of Army Hawaii's networks

Army Communicator, Winter, 2003 by Marcus Brakewood

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii--An influx of malicious network activity recently elevated the operational tempo of the U.S. Army Hawaii's Directorate of Information Management's information assurance program.

A rash of viruses activity across the network, starting with the Mimail Mass Mailing Worm and the Sobig Mass Mailing Worm that attempted to infiltrate through email services, then the Blaster and Welchia Worms, which used a vulnerability in a variety of Microsoft Operating Systems, and ending with the Swen Mass Mailing Worm, which again threatened email services.

The DOIM's Network Management Group, Customer Support Center, and Networks Operations Center responded to counter these infiltration attempts.

Through well written operational orders, trained system administrators and users coordinating joint defense efforts through the DOIM's combined team effectively combated the previously mentioned threats.

To strengthen Army Hawaii's network's defense, the Network Management Groups at Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter stood up a virtual perimeter around the DOIM's servers that blocked the abovementioned activity.

The DOIM's Customer Support Center was quick to react by coordinating a combined effort between supported units, and the Combat Support Command personnel to harden these systems from future attacks.

Before the outbreak of these threats, the DOIM's Network Operations Center informed and assisted system administrators throughout USARHAW on methods to protect their computer systems from attack.

The NOC managed the cooperative efforts between the supported units and USARHAW system administrators to contain, prevent, and recover after each attempted attack.

The NOC is continuing to train system administrators and users on how to prevent the exploitation of their computers, while also drafting courses of actions to improve the overall security of USARHAW's networks against further aggression.

1LT Brakewood is assigned to U.S. Army Hawaii Directorate of Information Management.