The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced Jan. 8 a total of some $30 million of first contract awards for its National Cyber Range (NCR) program, a research and development testbed aimed at speeding deployment of new cybersecurity systems and which is a key part of the interagency Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI). Launched early in 2008, the CNCI will be managed by the Homeland Security Department and will be the central coordinating office for all of the government’s cybersecurity organizations and development efforts.