Cyber Terrain Operations Platform Mission Assurance Prototype

This white paper presents the Cyber Terrain Operations Platform (CTOP), a prototype decision-support capability designed for the Air Force Global Strike Command. CTOP aims to assist operators in navigating complex cyber terrain by integrating structured data, technical artifacts, and unstructured documents into a cohesive graph-based environment. The document outlines the challenges faced by analysts in fragmented data environments, emphasizing the need for a clearer understanding of mission threads and dependencies. CTOP addresses these challenges by providing a unified platform that enhances visibility into NC2 and NC3 assets and their interconnections. The paper details CTOP's core design principles, which prioritize human oversight, explainability, and integration with existing systems. Additionally, it highlights the platform's capabilities, including relationship discovery, evidence linking, and natural language interaction, which facilitate efficient analysis and support defensible decision-making. Overall, CTOP is positioned as a valuable tool for improving mission assurance and operational understanding within the Air Force context.