Technical Visit to the National Critical Infrastructures Testbed Center by KOSTU Engineering Students

After the attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, the protection of critical infrastructures gained great importance all over the world. Because attacks directed at systems referred to as critical infrastructure—such as Energy, Finance, Communications, Water Distribution, Nuclear, Transportation, and Logistics—can severely affect the daily life of societies, the economic order, and national security. In this context, every country has published, and is still publishing, standards, frameworks, and regulations regarding the security of critical infrastructures to take precautions against attacks coming from both physical and cyber spaces. Since attacking through cyber space is easier and lower in cost, terrorist groups or state-sponsored threat actors prefer to attack through cyber environments.

Located within Sakarya University, the National Critical Infrastructures Testbed Center makes significant contributions to the security of our country’s critical infrastructure by conducting research, simulations, and training in Electric Power Grids, Water Management, and Cyber Security Operations Centers. At the same time, with its founding philosophy and activities, it sets a fine example of cooperation among university, public institutions, and the private sector.

Today, along with our intern students from KOSTU Computer Engineering and Software Engineering, we visited this center and received information about its infrastructure and ongoing research.

We would like to express our gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat İskefiyeli, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özçelik, Asst. Prof. Dr. Musa Balta, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Eski, Asst. Prof. Dr. Deniz Balta, and Res. Asst. Firdevs Sevde Toker for hosting us throughout our visit, sharing valuable information regarding the center’s activities, and conveying their experiences in the fields of cyber security and computer engineering.