The FBI has opened a massive Cyber Range in Huntsville, Alabama, designed to simulate real-world cyberattacks in a hyper-realistic setting. The facility spans 22,000 square feet and replicates an entire town — complete with a convenience store, gas station, hospital, and furnished houses.
Every building is connected just like a real municipality would be. The bureau uses the range for both training and research, recreating scenarios that agents might face in actual operations. It has drawn comparisons to Hogan's Alley, the FBI's historic mock town for physical combat training, but focused entirely on digital crime.
At the heart of the facility is a small data center containing over 200 servers that can be deliberately infected with malware and hacked during exercises. A fake power company allows instructors to simulate price manipulation through compromised infrastructure, while the hospital setup enables rehearsals of ransomware attacks on healthcare systems.
This investment signals a growing recognition that cyber threats have tangible, kinetic consequences. By offering a safe environment to test responses, the FBI aims to better prepare agents for attacks that could disrupt critical infrastructure, from power grids to medical facilities.
Critics may question whether a simulated environment can truly replicate the chaos and pressure of a live, multi-vector cyberattack. The range's effectiveness will ultimately depend on how well it can evolve alongside emerging threats.