Lackland AFB helping soldiers worldwide with cybersecurity

Kelly Morris

While proper training and equipment is essential for keeping servicemen and women safe on the battlefield, a group of technology professionals at Lackland Air Force base is providing another kind of security.

There are about 170 people at the Texas military compound who are charged with analyzing various systems, which in turn provides support to those in the field, according to DefPro.com.

This is the job of the 453rd Electronic Warfare Squadron, headquartered at Lackland and thanks to what some describe as “electronic armor,” soldiers on the field can use the detailed information to make better decisions during a battle.

Cybersecurity for war is one of the emerging trends in the military, especially since the newly formed Cyber Command was created. Without it, parts of the U.S. military may be open to a cyber terrorist attack.

According to the Department of Defense, military systems are accessed by unauthorized users about 250,000 times an hour. Earlier this week Defense Secretary Robert Gates sent President Barack Obama a memo recommending Lieutenant General Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, to head up Cyber Command.