ConnectThe Ashore Cyber Framework map was developed as a communication tool for the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) and served as a visual metaphor for a cyber awakening.
As cyber threats to national security rapidly evolve, the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), which delivers lifecycle technical and acquisition solutions aligned to Fleet and Marine Corps mission priorities, needed to proactively defend against potential attacks across the globe and protect our national security, the nation’s economy, and public health and safety.
NAVFAC’s Command Information Officer (CIO) needed to elevate conversations around the overall security of its facilities globally, while also safeguarding hundreds of thousands of connected industrial control systems (ICS) from cybersecurity threats ashore. With no time to waste, the Command sought to share its vision succinctly, make the case for resources, and articulate material outcomes to ensure their ability to deliver mission outcomes.
Throughline took a human-centered design approach through research and information gathering to understand the many infrastructure and technology complexities needed to execute advanced security protections. We worked closely with the CIO and his team in a series of facilitated information exchange sessions with stakeholders across the NAVFAC organization. The resulting graphically recorded visual artifacts served as foundational elements for the enterprise Ashore Cyber Framework and Strategy with the following objectives:
1. Foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness and cyber-savvy professionals across the enterprise
2. Implement industry best practices for designing, implementing, and maintaining ICS and support infrastructure
3. Develop a consistent and iterative approach to identifying, assessing and managing cybersecurity risk to maintain availability, integrity, and confidentiality of all systems
The Ashore Cyber Framework map was developed as a communication tool that users could visualize and retain. Throughline strategists developed key messages and talking points that allowed NAVFAC leadership to brief other Naval Commands, including four-star and fleet forces.
The Ashore Cyber Framework map helped NAVFAC gain proper funding and deploy 100 FTEs across the globe by telling the story of their major threats and challenges, the processes in place to address them, and the federal policies met through this strategy. The map empowered the CIO and his team to communicate risks related to shore infrastructure, build support for resources, and earn trust within NAVFAC/Shore Management, while keeping Navy leadership aligned with the NAVFAC mission.
The map was scaled up and socialized around the Pentagon and Navy SES offices. It went around the world, with briefings in Japan, Hawaii, Italy, Bahrain, and Guam, highlighting the Ashore Cyber Framework map and NAVFAC's role in it. In addition to elevating NAVFAC’s status and solidifying their technical authority, the map also put the organization on a platform, articulating at an executive level the threats to the Navy and the nation—with the Command Information Office leading that charge.
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