Softline has equipped a cyber laboratory based on the Ampire software and hardware complex for PGUP

2024: Cyber Laboratory Equipment

Softline Group of Companies (PJSC Softline) has equipped a cyber laboratory for the PGUPS of Emperor Alexander I based on the Ampire hardware and software complex. Softline announced this on April 4, 2024. Students of the Department of Informatics and Information Security will be able to undergo training in the methods of detecting, analyzing and eliminating computer attacks in practice. The Ampire cyberpolygon is developed by Perspective Monitoring.

Cooperation between Softline Group of Companies and the University began in 2015 with the supply anti-virus ON of collateral. Since data protection then, the company has regularly implemented various projects aimed at introducing innovative educational technologies into the educational institution.

In the fall of 2023, the active stage of project preparation began. Funding was provided from grant funds. After the agreement and signing of the agreement, Softline Group of Companies specialists began to equip the cyber laboratory.

First, high-performance computing equipment of Russian production was delivered: 16 ready-made workplaces, a server and a switch. Computer and server equipment was selected based on load parameters. In addition, as part of this delivery, the Softline team equipped a machine learning laboratory for the department. 15 additional workstations (automated workstations) were installed with improved configuration and video cards for calculation on GPUs. In this laboratory, students will be trained using cryptographic analysis technologies and neural networks.

After the delivery of the hardware, the Perspective Monitoring team began installing the software. The Ampire platform includes a wide range of typical infrastructures (templates), attack scenarios, as well as a script configurator. It allows you to create your own scenarios and new vectors of computer attacks, which the intruder will act on.

Despite the limited timing of the project, the process of equipment of the cyber laboratory passed according to the compiled schedule. This was due to the built and standardized process of deploying and configuring the Ampire platform and the careful selection of equipment by the project team.

The final stage was the training of university teachers to work with the complex. Thanks to the knowledge gained, the university staff not only quickly mastered the functionality, but also acquired the skills of independently creating scenarios, which significantly expands the possibilities of practical training.

Training on the basis of the Ampire cyber police will increase the competitiveness of university graduates in the labor market in the fields of IT and information security, since training at the complex is as close as possible to real situations that graduates will have to face at their future place of work, "said Mikhail Grachev, manager of work with state and academic customers in the Northwestern Federal District of Softline Group of Companies. - In addition, the cyber training center will allow fulfilling the requirements of federal state standards for material, technical and educational and methodological support of programs in specialties in information security.

The main task of creating a laboratory is to expand the capabilities of teachers and students during study. Information security has always been an important aspect in any field of activity, but only recently this has been given due attention, which cannot but rejoice. Especially since our university trains specialists related to the railway, which is an object of the country's critical infrastructure. Integrated into the learning process, the Ampire Cyber ​ ​ Polygon performs an important task - mastering practical skills that are quite difficult to give students within the walls of the university. Always study is associated more with theory, but thanks to the functionality of the platform, it becomes possible to practice the knowledge gained. In addition, classes on cyberpoligon will improve soft skills, since teamwork is supposed during the training, "said Maria Solomatova, Deputy Head of the Informatization Department, Head of the Information Systems Department of the Informatization Department, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Informatics and Information Security of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education and Education.