Cyber security has become one of the key elements of state security, economy and critical infrastructure. The Polish Armed Forces are responding to this challenge by training specialists on a dedicated cyberpolygon – a virtual training ground that simulates complex cyber environments. Colonel Michał Majewski, deputy director of the Expert Center for Cyber Security Training (ECSC), explains how practical exercises prepare soldiers and civilian experts for real-world threats.
The Expert Center for Cyber Security Training (ECSC) is a military unit directly subordinate to the Minister of National Defense. Established in November 2020, it was created as a response to the growing training needs of the Polish Armed Forces in cyber security, IT and cryptology. Colonel Majewski emphasizes that the center’s mission is to build the expert capital of the military, preparing specialists capable of operating in an environment where digital threats are increasingly complex and intertwined with state security.
– Our mission is to build the expert capital of the military – said Colonel Michał Majewski.
A training ground for real-world threats
The center prioritizes practice over theory. Training is conducted not as academic lectures but as technical lab sessions using specific technologies and tools employed by the defense ministry. ECSC operates 18 fully equipped computer laboratories and a cyberpolygon – a virtual platform that allows simulation of fragments of cyberspace. It can recreate environments composed of multiple systems, servers, network devices and various operating systems.
– We focus primarily on practice – added Colonel Michał Majewski. The cyberpolygon enables realistic attack and defense scenarios, giving trainees hands-on experience in securing networks and responding to incidents. This practical approach is crucial for building the operational readiness of cyber defense units.
Bridging military and civilian expertise
One of the center’s flagship projects is CyberExpert Game, a cybersecurity workshop organized in a competitive format. It is aimed primarily at entities outside the military, including operators of critical infrastructure. Participants come from sectors such as fuel, energy, telecommunications, banking and finance. Teams defend a assigned segment of cyberspace against attacks carried out by a so-called red team. The winner is the team that maintains the operation of the largest number of services for the longest time.
ECSC also runs programs targeting young talent, including Akademia_CYBER.MIL for students of technical universities, and organizes the CyberExpert conference, which brings together the military, academia and industry. Colonel Majewski stresses that the foundation of cyber security is not only knowledge and vigilance.
– The foundation of cyber security is not only knowledge and vigilance, but also the ability to act: proper structures, tools and procedures – noted Colonel Michał Majewski. These elements determine the effectiveness of the state and its institutions in cyberspace, and the exercises on the cyberpolygon are designed to build that capability systematically.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. WNP.PL
