Army researchers find the best cyber teams are antisocial cyber teams

Enlarge / Members of the University of Maryland Baltimore County CyberDawgs team primarily focus on working rather than interacting. This fits with US Army Research Laboratory findings, as this was the highest performing team at the Mid-Atlantic (and National) National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in 2017. (credit: National Cyberwatch Center)

Army researchers have discovered what experienced information security teams already know: actual human interaction isn't a key to success when you already know your role on the team.

At the National Cyberwatch Center's Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in March and April 2017, the team of researchers decided to conduct a study observing the competing teams. The CyberDawgs of the University of Maryland Baltimore County won the MACCDC before going on to win the Nationals a few weeks later. And like the other top-performing teams in the event, researchers discovered the CyberDawgs were able to coordinate and collaborate most effectively without leaving their keyboards.

"Successful cyber teams don't need to discuss every detail when defending a network," said Dr. Norbou Buchler, Networked Systems Branch team leader at the US Army Research Laboratory, in a press release. "They already know what to do."

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