The US Defense Innovation Unit has taken a significant step towards enhancing the cybersecurity capabilities of the US Cyber Command by selecting three contractors to develop prototypes for the Joint Cyber Hunt Kit. The chosen companies—Sealing Technologies, Omni Federal, and World Wide Technology—are tasked with creating a portable “security operations center in a box,” which is expected to be ready by the summer of 2025.
This innovative solution aims to standardize cyber defense tools across various military branches, addressing current inconsistencies in existing systems. The Joint Cyber Hunt Kit will be modular, allowing for extensive customization tailored to specific missions. It is designed to integrate modern technology that offers enhanced storage capacity, analytical capabilities, and network monitoring functions, thereby boosting threat-hunting efforts, reinforcing network security, and ensuring adaptability for varied missions.
The kit will play a crucial role in supporting Cyber Protection Teams, which are responsible for proactively identifying threats and addressing security breaches. Additionally, it will assist Hunt-Forward Operations teams that work in conjunction with partner nations to detect and analyze malicious cyber activities.
After the development and testing phase, only one contractor will be selected to advance in the program, sharpening the focus of the initiative.
Sealing Technologies presented its Cyber-Fly-Away Kits as a solution that meets operational demands by providing a “rapid, agile, and scalable innovation” to enhance defensive cyberspace operations and safeguard national security. The Director of Growth at SealingTech, Dave Shortt, emphasized the importance of their proposal in addressing mission needs.
In a separate but related development, the US Army awarded SealingTech a $9-million contract in August 2024 for a Deployable Defensive Cyber Operations System – Modular version 2, aimed at bolstering the capabilities of cyber protection teams to carry out missions from various locations.
Omni Federal introduced its Redhound system, which boasts an agnostic, modular, and open architecture platform. This system is engineered to provide “blazing fast” performance, enabling military personnel to detect, identify, and mitigate cyber threats efficiently and effectively, according to the CEO of Omni Federal, Parag Thakker.
World Wide Technology has yet to disclose specifics about its proposal. However, it has previously participated in a consortium led by HII, which successfully developed a cyber threat hunting kit in August 2023.
The advancements made through this initiative are expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of the US Cyber Command and improve the military’s overall preparedness against cyber threats, underscoring the critical nature of cybersecurity in national defense.
