US Cyber Command Conducts First “Hunt Forward” Mission in Zambia

In a significant cybersecurity operation, the U.S. Cyber Command deployed a team to Zambia for the first time in 2023. The mission involved collaboration with Zambia’s Information Communication Technology Authority to identify and mitigate network vulnerabilities over a three-month period.

The mission was part of the Cyber National Mission Force’s (CNMF) ongoing “hunt forward” operations, initiated in 2018. These missions are designed to identify threats in foreign networks, potentially providing the U.S. with early warnings of adversary tactics.

During this mission, U.S. and Zambian cybersecurity teams exchanged information on threats and vulnerabilities. The CNMF highlighted the importance of this collaboration, stating that it led to the identification and remediation of a specific network vulnerability in Zambia.

Although specific details about the vulnerability or the number of U.S. personnel involved were not disclosed, the mission exemplifies the growing cybersecurity partnership between Zambia and the United States. U.S. Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, emphasized that this deployment expands the collaborative efforts between the two nations, which have a long history of partnering on regional security and peacekeeping initiatives.

The Cyber Command conducted 22 “hunt forward” missions in 2023 alone, reflecting its global reach and commitment to enhancing cybersecurity in cooperation with international partners. This operation also marked the first instance of simultaneous “hunt forward” missions across all the Pentagon’s geographic combatant commands, underscoring the strategic importance of these efforts.