The FBI built a small town to simulate cyberattacks

The FBI has opened a 22,000-square-foot Cyber Range in Huntsville, Alabama, designed like a small town with a hospital, gas station, homes, and other connected facilities. The site includes a data center with more than 200 servers that can be hacked or infected with malware for training and research.

The facility reflects how cyber training is moving beyond isolated labs toward realistic simulations of critical infrastructure and everyday systems. As attacks increasingly target hospitals, utilities, and connected services, agencies need environments that mirror the complexity and cascading effects of real incidents.