Cybertropolis: breaking the paradigm of cyber-ranges and testbeds

This paper describes a unique United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) resource known as Cybertropolis at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex (MUTC) in Butlerville, Indiana. While Cybertropolis is recognized within DoD as a cybersecurity training range or cyber-range in DoD lexicon, it does not neatly fit into the doctrinal concept of a cyberrange. From an ontological perspective, it is better classified as a Cyber-electromagnetic (CEMA) range facility that bridges the realms of kinetic and non-kinetic activities. Cybertropolis can be visualized as the digital and electromagnetic layer of the highly realistic MUTC kinetic training environment. Since its inception, Cybertropolis has been host to many training and experimentation events with a wide variety of technologies. This paper will describe the ideas behind the Cybertropolis concept; current, developing, and future capabilities; and the future vision for the range. This paper will also delve into where this facility fits into the evolving landscape of DoD cyber-ranges and will include some lessons-learned from the evolving field of cyber training within DoD.