MTUCI and Security Code Open Joint Cybersecurity Lab in Southern Russia
The Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI) and cybersecurity developer Security Code have opened a joint laboratory at the university's North Caucasus branch in Rostov-on-Don. The facility will provide hands-on training for both university students and practicing cybersecurity professionals.
The laboratory features 30 networked workstations running virtual machines. Students will train using Russian cybersecurity products, including the Kontinent 4 firewall, Secret Net Studio endpoint protection system, and the vGate platform. The facility is expected to train more than 100 full-time students each year, along with over 1,000 participants enrolled in continuing education programs.
A Shift Toward Hands-On Training
This is the second joint laboratory established by MTUCI and Security Code. The first opened in Moscow in October 2023. The new facility helps bridge the gap between university education and employer expectations by giving students practical experience with Russian cybersecurity technologies while expanding the talent pipeline for southern Russia and supporting the country's technology import substitution efforts.
MTUCI Rector Sergey Yerokhin describes the partnership with Security Code as an important element in preparing highly qualified cybersecurity professionals. He says that years of collaboration have produced an effective model of cooperation between the university and industry, allowing students to acquire practical skills that employers actively seek.
In a broader context, the new laboratory reflects a global shift toward practical cybersecurity education built around cyber ranges and realistic infrastructure environments. Nationally, the project contributes to the development of Russia's cybersecurity talent pipeline as the country's information security market continues to expand, reaching 314 billion rubles in 2024 (approximately $4 billion), up 26.3% year over year. For the Rostov region, the laboratory creates a new training hub for in-demand cybersecurity professionals with clear pathways to employment.
Expansion to Other Regions
The laboratory has strong potential within Russia's domestic market. It can evolve into a regional training center serving telecommunications providers, banks, industrial companies, and government agencies. Future plans include expanding course offerings and practical exercises with Security Code, conducting cyber exercises and attack simulations, training instructors, broadening internship opportunities, and continuously upgrading the laboratory's equipment.
The "developer – university – laboratory" model is expected to expand to other Russian regions. Over the longer term, similar centers could also support the international adoption of Russian cybersecurity technologies by training qualified professionals. The approach could be applied in CIS countries, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East through joint training centers, education programs for international students, remote learning, and the inclusion of workforce training in technology export agreements.
IT Companies Help Modernize University Training Facilities
Since 2022, Russia has been developing a network of National Cyber Range centers. These facilities focus on practical training in cyberattack response and on modeling the infrastructure of banks, energy systems, and telecommunications networks. One such center was established at the Volga State University of Telecommunications and Informatics in Samara. It was followed by the first MTUCI joint laboratory in Moscow, which included 25 workstations. The new Rostov facility continues that initiative by expanding its geographic reach and increasing capacity to 30 workstations. Particularly valuable is the opportunity for students to complete internships directly with the company. As a result, many receive job offers before graduating.
Also in 2023, Kaspersky Lab, Orenburg State University, the regional Ministry of Digital Development, and ASU PRO began creating a center dedicated to protecting industrial control systems in Orenburg. There, students work with real industrial automation systems and Russian cybersecurity technologies. That initiative reflects a broader shift toward specialization, with university laboratories increasingly focusing on protecting industrial operations and critical infrastructure.
By 2025, demand for practice-oriented cybersecurity education had intensified. Employers increasingly sought graduates with experience in cyber exercises, Capture the Flag competitions, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Against that backdrop, the new laboratory in Rostov-on-Don continues a sustained trend of IT companies helping equip universities and shape academic curricula.
Addressing Workforce and Educational Needs
The opening of the laboratory in Rostov-on-Don marks a significant regional development in cybersecurity education. It gives students access to Russian enterprise-grade security technologies already deployed in operational infrastructure. That learning environment will further strengthen the integration of academic education with real-world cybersecurity practice.
The project is expected to increase the number of graduates who can transition more quickly into professional roles. For Security Code, the laboratory addresses both workforce development and educational objectives by building a pipeline of specialists already familiar with its technologies. Over the next several years, more corporate laboratories are expected to appear at universities, driven by continued growth in the cybersecurity market, rising demand to protect critical infrastructure, and an ongoing shortage of experienced professionals.
