Marines with Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command pose for photos in cyber operations room at Lasswell Hall aboard Fort Meade, Maryland, Feb. 5, 2020. MARFORCYBER Marines conduct offensive and defensive cyber operations in support of United States Cyber Command and operate, secure and defend the Marine Corps Enterprise Network.

Cybersecurity threats are hardly limited to the military alone, and a new report from CISA shows a hacking group in North Korea attacking think tanks and commercial enterprise. (Jacob Osborne / Marine Corps)

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon is requesting $11.2 billion for cyberspace activities in its fiscal 2023 budget request for various efforts, including increasing cybersecurity support for defense contractors, hardening its own networks, operationalizing zero trust architecture and for “cyber ranges” akin to rifle ranges for all things digital.

The request represents an increase of $800 million over last year’s request and also includes adding five cyber mission force teams for a total of 142 teams, according to budget documents. 

“We’re also investing to improve readiness in the nation’s cyber force by funding cyber ranges to enable training and exercises in the cyber domain,” Vice Adm. Ron Boxall, director of force structure, resources and assessment for the Joint Staff, said Monday. “Finally, the budget lays the foundation for US [Cyber Command] to have ownership of the mission and resources of the cyber mission force beginning in FY24 as directed in the [FY]22 NDAA.”

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The White House on Monday also released budget documents outlining funding for cyber-focused agencies outside of DoD, like the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, which is requesting $2.5 billion in FY23. 

The funding will “maintain critical cybersecurity capabilities implemented in the American Rescue Plan; expand network protection throughout the Federal Executive Branch; and bolster support capabilities, such as cloud business applications, enhanced analytics and stakeholder engagement,” the White House document states. “The budget also supports the Office of the National Cyber Director, which would improve national coordination in the face of escalating cyber attacks on government and critical infrastructure.”

CISA has been vocal about potential cyberattacks on the US in the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In February, CISA, along with the NSA and FBI, released a joint cybersecurity advisory claiming Russian-backed hackers targeted US defense contractors for at least two years. CISA urged companies to harden their defenses against future attacks and warned the threat isn’t expected to go away anytime soon. 

President Joe Biden has also reiterated warnings that the Russian government could potentially conduct cyberattacks in response to imposed sanctions and has vowed to respond to any Russian cyber aggression. 

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“If Russia pursues cyberattacks against our companies, our critical infrastructure, we are prepared to respond,” Biden said during a Feb. 24 White House briefing. “For months, we have been working closely with … the private sector to harden their cyber defenses, sharpen our ability to respond to Russian cyberattacks as well.”