The Educational and Research Institute of Physics and Technology at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) has opened a training Laboratory of Cybersecurity of Automated Control Systems, supported by the USAID project “Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure of Ukraine.” Julie Koenen, Mission Director for USAID Ukraine, personally attended the opening ceremony.
The cutting-edge laboratory will help current and future operators responsible for critical infrastructure hone their skills to reduce and eliminate vulnerabilities in automated control systems. The newly established laboratory virtually duplicates the environment of an industrial control system, simulating real-life situations across various sectors such as manufacturing, water supply, and utilities.
“Today, such specialists are in great demand at enterprises in various industries in Ukraine. Therefore, the novel laboratory and its equipment will enable future specialists to master advanced cybersecurity methods and solutions, with a focus on assessing the vulnerabilities of both public and private critical infrastructure,” said KPI Rector Anatolii Melnychenko. “Moreover, the establishment of this laboratory will allow our university to develop specialized training modules within educational and certification programs.”
KPI partners also attended the laboratory’s inauguration, namely, Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine for Science and Innovation, Serhii Demediuk, Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, and Yurii Myronenko, Head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine.
This many-sided cooperation will contribute to the effective training of future cybersecurity professionals who will boost Ukraine’s cyber resilience.