The International Institute of Digital Technologies (IIDT) in Tirupati is planning to establish a Cyber Range Centre to impart training to students in thwarting cyber attacks.
An initiative of the government’s Information Technology Department, the IIDT has started functioning from Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) campus temporarily from this year, and is offering courses in cyber security and business analytics. It has entered into a MoU with Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU).
“eSF Labs, which is the technology partner for GFSU, is setting up the Cyber Range Centre,” according to J.A. Chowdary, IT Adviser to the Chief Minister.
“The trial run of the Cyber Range Centre will begin from Monday. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister N. Lokesh are likely to inaugurate the centre soon,” Mr. Chowdary told The Hindu.
“eSF Labs, which has experts in cyber security and research, is offering technology and courses on cyber range. Installation of the centre has been completed. eSF Labs inaugurated the first-of-its-kind lab in the country at GFSU recently. We are planning to set up cyber security labs in other States too,” said eSF Labs founder and chairman A. Anil.
Stressing the need for training IT experts, academicians, bankers, medical and health institutes, educational institutions, manufacturing units, and students on cyber attacks, malware, hacking, and cyber analytics, Mr. Chowdary said the Cyber Range Centre would help in imparting practical training to IIDT students.
‘Cyber security warriors’
“At present, phishing, cyber frauds, ransomware, malicious domains, data thefts, and mobile frauds are posing a threat to the country. We have to prepare lakhs of cyber security warriors to protect from malwares,” he said.
“The IIDT students will be trained in tackling all kinds of cyber security threats. The proposed high-end Cyber Range Centre will provide a real-time environment on how to detect and thwart cyber attacks. Discussions will be held with cyber experts, researchers, and students on the subject,” said Mr. Chowdary.