CyberSecurityHub: experience a hacker attack... for real

CyberSecurityHub is part of the European Digital Innovation Centres and provides expert services in the fields of cyber security, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. "Our main goal is to increase the resilience of companies and public organisations against cyber threats during their digital transformation," explains Radek Kopecký, Business Development Manager at CyberSecurityHub.

Cyber attacks are an increasingly common problem in the corporate and public sectors, and CyberSecurityHub therefore offers consulting and specific expert services to help improve data and system protection. "It's about how to prevent security incidents, but also how to respond to them quickly and effectively," says Kopecký. Among the services offered are penetration tests, cybersecurity assessments and various forms of training, including simulated cyberattacks, to help companies understand the vulnerabilities of their systems. "The fact that the result of our work is not actually visible is the best outcome for us.It means that preventative organisational and technological measures are working and so there is no need to face attacks."

At the fair, you have the opportunity to experience simulated attacks on medical devices and industrial control systems, and experience first-hand how easily key systems can be compromised. "We demonstrate here how a cyber-attack can halt an entire production or even endanger lives, and how important it is to take precautions," says Kopecky.

You will find, for example, a miniature of a machine that was supposed to give patients in a hospital a safe dose of radiation, but due to a software error was giving off lethal doses of radiation. "The machine killed dozens of people over several years because the error caused higher radiation doses than intended," says programmer Jakub Rejzek.

In another machine, you will see a simulation where hackers can take control of a production line and cause it to stop or fundamentally change processes. "Attacks on industrial control systems are unfortunately a real threat today, because while they used to be more or less isolated from the outside world, today these systems are essentially always connected to the Internet," Rejzek points out. Such attacks can have disastrous consequences - from disrupting production to safety risks for employees, for example.

At the engineering fair, Kopecký appreciates the opportunity to meet key partners and customers. "The fair is a great place to showcase and strengthen partnerships within our network and with customers.Every year we see the interest in cyber security growing, not only among the professional public, but also among small companies and public institutions," says Kopecký.

Kopecký also stresses the importance of bringing cybersecurity to wider awareness: "I consider it very important that the President and other government officials are bringing this topic to the forefront.More and more people - not only experts but also lay people - are realising how crucial it is to address this issue.I am therefore pleased that cybersecurity has a large presence at this year's fair."