What is Cyber Commando? Initiatives and Programs Against Cyber Crime

Cyber Commandos are specialized military units or teams focused on conducting cyber operations, including offensive and defensive strategies to protect and secure information systems from cyber threats.

The concept of Cyber Commandos is closely associated with organizations like the United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and similar initiatives in other countries aimed at enhancing national cybersecurity capabilities.

United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM)

USCYBERCOM, formed on May 21, 2010, is one of the eleven unified commands of the U.S. Department of Defense. Its mission involves organizing, scheduling, and executing actions to protect DoD information networks and carrying out a range of specific military cyber operations. This includes ensuring freedom of operations in cyberspace for the U.S. and its allies while denying the same to adversaries.

Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF)

The Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) is a critical component of USCYBERCOM, activated on January 27, 2014. Initially comprising 21 teams, the CNMF has expanded to 39 joint cyber teams with over 2,000 service members and civilians. The CNMF's roles include:

• National Mission Teams (NMT): Focused on defending the nation by identifying and countering adversary activities.
• Combat Mission Teams (CMT): Conduct military cyberspace operations in support of combatant commander priorities.
• Cyber Protection Teams (CPT): Responsible for defending the DoD's information networks and preparing cyber forces for combat.
• National Support Teams (NST): Provide analytical and planning support to the operational teams.

The CNMF engages in various operations, including U.S. election defence, counter-ransomware efforts, and global hunt operations aimed at identifying and mitigating malicious cyber activities across the globe.

Global Cybersecurity Initiatives

Besides USCYBERCOM, other countries have developed their cyber commands meant for combating cyber crimes as well as increasing the Security of airspace. For instance, the Indian Army has launched the Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSWs) which are specialized and geared towards enhancing cybersecurity and protection of military networks from cyber menace. These units will be instrumental in protecting the communication networks and further bolstering the security;

Further details of the project are as follows:-

• Project Name: Building up five new units for communication security of the Indian Army
• Cost of the project: Rs 232.45 crore
• Place/Location of project: Indian Army
• Fund sought from Raksha eigen capital for the project:- Rs 232.45 crore

Other Notable Initiatives

Defense Cyber Agency (DCA): This India-based tri-service agency provides direction and prepares cyber doctrine, strategy, and policy of the armed forces and coordinates with other National Cyber security agencies.

National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC): They are responsible for the leadership of the national cybersecurity strategy and the proper coordination against cyber threats.

Cyber Swachhta Kendra: It is an online platform in India intended to prevent and eliminate infected devices, increasing people’s awareness and fighting against malware issues.

The Importance of Cyber Commandos

These are very vital in the current world where issues related to cyber influences become dominant and complex. Ransomware attacks, cyber phishing, and state-sponsored cyber operations are some of the reasons why there is a need to establish a countering capacity. In the McAfee and CSIS research, it was revealed that the global economy is losing over $ 1 trillion every year to cyber criminals, stressing the need to protect networks.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the role of Cyber Commandos and similar initiatives becomes increasingly vital. These specialized units not only defend against cyber attacks but also play a proactive role in identifying and neutralizing threats before they can cause significant harm. The establishment of organizations like USCYBERCOM and the CCOSWs demonstrates a growing recognition of the importance of cybersecurity in national defense strategies worldwide.

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