Russia Plans to Launch a Center to Assess Cybersecurity Effectiveness
The proposed structure would focus on analyzing internet security and issuing recommendations to strengthen cyber defenses, aiming to improve the resilience of public and private digital systems.
Addressing Immediate Challenges
Russia’s federal government is discussing the creation of a specialized center to assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity tools. The center would analyze information security solutions and issue recommendations for their improvement. A decision on the initiative is expected by January 30, 2026. The project is being initiated by the Ministry of Digital Development and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, alongside other agencies, with participation from regulators and security bodies including FSTEC and the Federal Security Service.
The future center’s core responsibilities are expected to include comparative analysis of existing cybersecurity solutions, identification of vulnerabilities, and the development of recommendations to strengthen protection. It would also be tasked with developing evaluation frameworks and standards applicable to both government entities and private organizations. In addition, the center would be responsible for rapid response to emerging internet security threats.
These tasks are becoming increasingly urgent given the growing volume and sophistication of cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure and the digital economy. Under these conditions, new mechanisms are needed not only to monitor cyber risks but also to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of existing information security solutions. The proposed center is intended to address these gaps by helping standardize protection approaches and reinforce the digital sovereignty of national systems. At the same time, businesses could benefit from reduced risks of data breaches and cyberattacks.
Accelerating Digital Transformation
If successfully implemented, the initiative could serve as a reference model for cybersecurity assessment in other interested countries. Building such competencies would also stimulate the development of domestic cybersecurity solutions, which could later become competitive in international markets.
However, the most immediate impact is expected within Russia. Domestically, the new center could become a regulatory element of the information security market, shaping mandatory standards and methodologies for government procurement. The introduction of unified criteria for evaluating cyber defense effectiveness would accelerate digital transformation in critical sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and the financial system. Moreover, the center could evolve into a research base for advanced solutions, including the assessment of AI system security and supporting infrastructure. At the same time, effective development will require addressing key risks, most notably the shortage of qualified specialists and the complexity of defining objective evaluation criteria.
A Cross-Agency Mandate
Analyst reports point to steady growth in sophisticated attacks on critical infrastructure across Russia and the CIS, making the creation of specialized assessment and response centers an increasingly important step. Similar initiatives have already been discussed in specific sectors, including transportation, where experts have explored mechanisms for sharing information on cybersecurity incidents.
Other agencies are moving in the same direction. For example, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has launched an experimental center to detect and defend against attacks on vehicles and transport software. Meanwhile, discussions within the Ministry of Digital Development about establishing a unified security research center to address AI-related risks date back to 2024.
Toward a National Quality Regulator
Establishing a center to assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity tools represents an important step toward systematizing cybersecurity governance at the national level. Such initiatives align with the objectives of the national Digital Economy program, where securing digital environments is a core priority.
Given the relevance of the task and the readiness of multiple agencies to participate, it is reasonable to expect that the future center could gradually move beyond analysis toward the development of standards and certification for information security solutions. The project is likely to become a focal point for partnerships between government and IT companies, integrating assessments of domestic developers’ technologies. Over time, the center could also function as a quality regulator for cybersecurity tools, influencing public procurement and data protection requirements.
