Visualizing Mission Relevant Terrain in Cyberspace (MRT-C)
August 19, 2025
What is MRT-C?
Mission Relevant Terrain in Cyberspace (MRT-C) identifies critical network assets that, if disrupted, could significantly impact a mission. These assets might include systems, applications, or devices essential for network functionality and mission success.
By focusing on MRT-C, decision-makers can prioritize the protection of assets that are vital to operations.
When enabled for a project, Teleseer uses analytics to identify Mission Relevant Key Terrain Cyber in a network. Assets are given an overall mission relevancy score based on various topological characteristics and role-based features. Assets are then ranked 1 to N in terms of how relevant they are to the behaviors, roles, and functions observed on that network. Commanders can use this ranked list to review and nominate assets for inclusion in their final MRT-C list.
How Teleseer Identifies MRT-C
Teleseer provides two analytics to identify MRT-C assets:
1. Ranked Centrality Analysis
Focuses on network behavior to measure how connected or influential a system is.
Prioritizes assets based on:
Connection Score: Measures how many direct links a system has.
Bridge Score: Finds chokepoints that control information flow.
Proximity Score: Highlights systems that can quickly reach other assets.
Influence Score: Identifies systems with the most impact on the network.
2. Constructed Centrality Analysis
Optimized for large networks where speed is critical.
Uses predefined roles (e.g., routers, DNS servers) and activity levels to prioritize assets.
These algorithms are enabled and configured by Cyberspatial engineers. Please contact Teleseer Support for more information.
What Do the Scores Mean?
Each asset is scored to show how critical it is:
High Scores: Systems essential for network functionality. Examples include routers or DNS servers. These should be monitored and secured first.
Low Scores: Systems with minimal impact on the mission. These may not require immediate attention.
Example Interpretation:
If a system has an unusually high Connection Score, it could be a misconfigured device or a target for malicious activity.
A high Bridge Score indicates a chokepoint that could disrupt mission-critical communication if compromised.
Viewing MRT-C in Teleseer
Asset Detail MRT-C
Click on a device in Teleseer to view its details.
If MRT-C scores were calculated for the asset, the Inspector Panel shows the total MRT-C score and its component scores in the Notes section for the asset. This includes details about which algorithm was used (Ranked or Constructed Centrality).
You can use the search filter in the network panel to search for assets with MRTC scores:
Inventory Panel MRT-C Scores
Click the Inventory Panel in Teleseer
Ensure the notes column is enabled for display
Type MRTC in the search filter
Sort the Notes panel alphabetically
This will provide a prioritized list of assets, sorted by their overall MRT-C score.
Additional Information
Additional information about the MRT-C analytic is available in a technical document titled Teleseer's MRT-C Algorithm (August 2025). This document is available upon request to support@cyberspatial.com