Cyber Operator | Canadian Armed Forces

Overview

Cyber Operators conduct defensive cyber operations, and when required and where feasible, active cyber operations. They liaise and work collaboratively with other government departments and agencies, as well as with Canada’s allies to enhance the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) ability to provide a secure cyber environment. They monitor CAF communication networks to detect and respond to unauthorized network access attempts and provide cyber support to meet the operational requirements of the Navy, Army, Air Force, and joint enablers.

A Cyber Operator has the following responsibilities:

Collect, process and analyze network data
Identify network vulnerabilities
Manage a computer network environment
Conduct defensive and active cyber operations
Apply security and communications knowledge in the field of information technology
Use and maintain classified and unclassified records and publications

Pay and benefits

Work environment

Cyber Operators work with extremely sensitive information in a high-security environment, within restricted-access facilities. Cyber Operators are required to work shift work throughout their careers however, they have frequent opportunities for employment in positions that work regular business hours. Cyber Operators serve in the sea, land or air environment, and on deployed operations around the world. They can also be employed in exchange positions as part of the personnel exchange program with United States armed forces or other allied nations.

Transcript

TITLE:

CYBER OPERATOR

IN THE CANADIAN FORCES

Cyber Operator is an individual who is tasked with monitoring and analyzing network traffic in the goals of defending Canada’s networks and information. The enemy is looking for information on our proprietary systems, our research, our development, all of our bigtime secrets. I work in one of the most secure facilities within the Canadian Forces. I come to work, I take a look at monitoring our automated systems, checking to see if any reports of vulnerabilities or attacks have been present. And once I’ve taken a look at our automated systems, I take a look at the threats of tomorrow; trying to find how people are trying to navigate through our networks without our notice. Whether it’d be from surveillance: watching active systems. Forensics: trying to reverse engineer malware or pull evidence off of infected machines. Reconnaissance: doing scans and looking for vulnerabilities, either within our systems or through interconnecting systems. Or you could be part of Red Team or Blue Team: individuals who are tasked with finding new vulnerabilities on our network. All the things that could cost the lives of soldiers overseas.

You always have to be looking for, how will the enemy break through our defences today? What you knew six months ago may not be valid today or tomorrow. The coolest part about the job is that I can’t talk about the coolest parts of my job. What I can say is that the unique challenges of seeing active operations, whether against us or what we are doing internally, presents challenges that you can’t get anywhere else.

(…similar activity coming from another subnet)

We are facing up against professionals who are getting paid fulltime to go after our networks and our assets. When you look at traffic and you know that something bad is happening, you do your research, you build tools and then the end result of all of that, you have what the enemy was doing in plain text. There is no more rewarding experience that I’ve ever had within the Canadian Forces.

Basic Military Qualification

The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) course, or Basic Training, held at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This training provides the core skills and knowledge common to all military occupations. Another objective for the course is to ensure that all recruits maintain the CAF physical fitness standard. As a result, the training is physically demanding.

Learn more about Basic Training here.

Basic occupational qualification training

After your BMQ you will be sent to a CAF-approved college program on computer network security where you will learn:

Software development
Network Situational Awareness
How to respond to and report on cyber events
How to conduct analyses

After successful completion of the college program, or if you already have a diploma from an approved institution, you will attend the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics (CFSCE) in Kingston, Ontario, for approximately 16 weeks. Using a combination of theory, demonstrations, practical work and simulation exercises, the CFSCE course will cover:

Cyber Operations
Data capture and statistical analysis
Communications and data security
Operation of auxiliary equipment

Cyberopérations
Saisie de données et analyse statique
Communications et sécurité des données
Utilisation d’équipement auxiliaire

Available specialty training

Cyber Operators may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training, including:

Network vulnerability evaluations and assessments
Digital forensics
Threat intelligence analysis
Active cyber tasks
Malware identification and analysis
Cyber event mitigation

Cyber Operators who demonstrate the required ability, dedication and potential may be selected for career progression opportunities, advanced training, and promotion.

Direct entry options

Now Hiring: as part of a phased approach to filling Cyber Operator positions within the CAF, we will soon accept applications from individuals who have already completed a CAF-endorsed college program (see the CAF-ACE website for information, or contact your nearest recruiting centre), who are expected to complete such a program by end May 2018, or who are in their first year of such a program.

Future Entry Plan: planning is underway to commence the hiring of candidates who meet the minimum entry standard, no later than summer of 2019. The entry standards will be published by January 2018.

Serve with the Reserve Force

This position is available for part-time employment within the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time at an Air Force Wing, Naval Reserve unit, or Army Reserve unit in their community, and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job. They are paid during their training and employment. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they can volunteer to move to another base. They may also volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.

Part time employment

Cyber Operators conduct defensive cyber operations, and when required and where feasible, active cyber operations. These operations include disrupting the actions from potential adversaries in the cyber domain. They monitor and defend CAF communication networks to detect and respond to unauthorized network access attempts and provide cyber support to meet the operational requirements of the Navy, Army, Air Force, and joint enablers. When employed on a part-time or casual full-time basis, they usually serve at CAF unit locations within Canada.

Cyber Operator

Reserve Force training

Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. They usually begin training with their home unit to ensure that they meet the required basic professional military standards. Following basic training, the home unit will arrange for additional training for specialized skills. Cyber Operators attend the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics in Kingston, Ontario, to achieve their qualification and may train to work in digital forensics, threat intelligence analysis, or Network vulnerability evaluations and assessments.

Reserve Working Environment

Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit for scheduled evenings and weekends, although they may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do. They are paid 85 percent of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.