To effectively combat security incidents, it’s essential to improve employees’ informational awareness, train qualified specialists, and develop digital skills. Achieving this is only possible through education. That’s why, on July 22, Dinu Țurcanu, UTM’s Vice-Rector for Digitalization and Cybercor trainer, in partnership with Cisco Systems, launched a series of training sessions titled “Information Security and Cybersecurity Awareness” at the newly established National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations Cybercor at the Technical University of Moldova.
The goal of this initiative is to train over 120 employees from the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Moldova, the Chișinău Prosecutor’s Office, territorial prosecutor’s offices (Briceni, Bălți, Ocnița, Cantemir, Soroca, Taraclia, Ștefan Vodă, Călărași, Dondușeni, Fălești, Sângerei, Rezina, Ungheni, UTA Găgăuzia, Cimișlia, Anenii Noi, Nisporeni, Orhei, Căușeni, Bender, etc.), the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, about the importance of information and cybersecurity. Participants will learn about major cyber threats, best security practices, and how to respond correctly to protect the institution’s data and infrastructure.
“The objective of training the prosecutor’s office employees is to equip them with the skills necessary to ensure cybersecurity in the digital space. Participants will receive valuable information on techniques and methods for evaluating and identifying fraudulent emails, verifying sender addresses using specialized scanning platforms, preventive measures against malicious software, risks associated with online navigation, social engineering threats, and minimum requirements for securing terminal equipment and mobile devices. I must acknowledge the significant contribution of Mr. Ion Munteanu, General Prosecutor of the Republic of Moldova, who facilitated the training of participants on the Cybercor platform. Every institution should follow Mr. Munteanu’s example by establishing and implementing periodic security awareness programs for their staff, including administrative, leadership, and control bodies, to address information security risks,” mentioned UTM Vice-Rector at the end of the training.
The General Prosecutor emphasized the role of the Technical University of Moldova, which, through the “Cybercor” National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations, continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating a healthy and secure cyber society. He highlighted the importance of protecting personal data and raising awareness about cyber attacks: “I believe that by acquiring the necessary knowledge and adopting appropriate practices, employees can significantly contribute to protecting information and maintaining the integrity of the systems they use.”
The training session covered the following key topics:
– Fundamentals of information and cybersecurity: understanding the basic concepts and their importance.
– Recognizing cyber threats: identifying the main types of attacks and vulnerabilities.
– Best practices for data protection: implementing simple measures to safeguard sensitive information.
– Incident response procedures: how to react correctly in the event of a cyber attack.
Through these educational initiatives, UTM and “Cybercor,” with support from the Development Foundation of Moldova, coordinator of the Google grant provided to the National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations “Cybercor,” not only strengthen national security but also underscore the vital part that cybersecurity education plays in developing a resilient digital society.
The mission of the “Cybercor” National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations to train as many people as possible in cybersecurity is crucial for building a secure digital society. This mission has become even more imperative following the Government Decision on September 13, 2023, which highlights the need for professional development in cybersecurity. This decision officially designates the Technical University of Moldova as the primary institution responsible for national cybersecurity. UTM will ensure this through comprehensive training and improvement programs, cybersecurity exercises, research and innovation initiatives, security guidelines and best practices, and establishing partnerships with relevant organizations.
It’s also worth noting that this training is part of a series of training sessions planned for 2024, conducted in partnership with Cybercor and Cisco Systems. Their goal is to bring expertise to public and private institutions, facilitating knowledge transfer to help them implement and utilize the best practices and solutions in the aforementioned areas.
To reduce vulnerability in cybersecurity, the Technical University of Moldova, along with the Future Technologies Project funded by USAID, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and the Development Foundation (implementer of the Google grant provided to the Cybersecurity Academy) created the “Cybercor” National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations. The new entity, which will launch in September, will bring together the public sector, private sector, and academia in a centrally located space hosted by UTM. This facility will promote innovation and excellence in theoretical and practical education, professional training, and national preparation for cyber threats. Cybercor will cover about 1,300 square meters with high-tech spaces, training rooms, a server room with cybersecurity scenario modeling, themed rooms, and an event hall with a capacity of over 400 people.
