UserGate Launches Specialized Training and Research Laboratory at NSTU NETI: Paving the Way for Future Experts in Information Security

On July 4, a specialized educational and research laboratory from UserGate was launched at the Department of Information Security at NSTU NETI, aiming to provide professional training for over 200 students annually. Aspiring professionals will acquire essential skills to tackle various challenges in the field of practical information security.

Novosibirsk Oblast has become the first region in Russia to establish a specialized UserGate laboratory. The facility, set up in collaboration with NSTU NETI, is equipped with modern software and hardware complexes utilizing UserGate’s proprietary solutions. The laboratory will be utilized by both the university and the Department of Information Security for specialized training sessions as well as scientific projects and engineering developments across a wide range of disciplines. This initiative is particularly significant in preparing highly qualified specialists capable of addressing issues that intersect science and practice.

The opening ceremony of the UserGate laboratory was attended by **Sergey Tsukary, the Minister of Digital Development and Communications of Novosibirsk Oblast**.

“Novosibirsk Oblast, as one of the largest centers of innovation and scientific-technological development in the country and an IT capital, provides skilled personnel not only for itself but also for other regions. Therefore, it’s no coincidence that UserGate, a leading Russian developer of information security solutions and a resident of the Novosibirsk Academpark, has opened its first regional laboratory in our area. This serves as a positive example of collaboration between government, business, and academia. Currently, there is a critical shortage of professionals in information security, and we can tackle this issue through collective efforts. The Government of Novosibirsk Oblast is fully supportive of IT companies’ initiatives to participate in the training of specialists. We are pleased to have yet another IT lab that will supply the country with highly qualified experts,” commented the minister.

“Information security is a key factor for stable state development, and this is obvious to everyone today. In Novosibirsk, Russia’s IT capital, a successful partnership is evolving between education, business, and government. The establishment of specialized laboratories in universities has become a norm, confirming the quality of this interaction. We hope that the NSTU laboratory will grow into an academic center of competence in UserGate technologies, beneficial for the entire region and country. It is crucial that students can study modern technologies, intern, and receive support from the industry without leaving the university,” noted **Evgeny Popantonopulo, Deputy Mayor of Novosibirsk**.

“The laboratory opened today is more than just an educational facility; it serves as a comprehensive competence center in information security, providing access to real technologies and professional training for future information security experts,” remarked **Margarita Zaitseva, Director of UserGate Academy**. According to her, “we plan to integrate UserGate products into at least five subjects within the Department of Information Security at NSTU NETI, starting from the third year. This will allow students to not only grasp the theoretical foundations but also to gain valuable practical experience using modern tools for monitoring and safeguarding computer networks. The equipped laboratory will accommodate up to thirty students simultaneously in one session, optimizing the practical approach to training qualified specialists. In addition to professional training and educational programs, collaboration between NSTU NETI and UserGate will also include a special scholarship program for students.”

This program will promote academic mobility and the professional growth of youth, encouraging students to participate in research projects and learn advanced technologies. Scholarships will be awarded based on educational and research achievements, including participation in competitions, master classes, hackathons, and other scientific initiatives from the laboratory.

**Anatoly Bataev, Rector of NSTU NETI**, emphasized: “Being the first regional university to host a specialized UserGate laboratory is both an honor and a responsibility for us. Collaborating with a leader in the domestic IT sector and receiving support from the regional government allows us to view the laboratory as an educational and research center for training high-caliber professionals and exploring current issues in information security. Within the laboratory’s activities, NSTU NETI will also serve as an academic competence center in network security, significantly enhancing the training of young specialists and boosting the research potential of universities in our region and the country as a whole.”

Prior to the official ceremony, the laboratory hosted the final stage of a masterclass on using UserGate products for students of the Department of Information Security. Participants in the masterclass received personalized certificates and the opportunity to take an exam to gain the status of “Certified User of UserGate.”

During the ceremony, an agreement was signed for cooperation among the Ministry of Digital Development of the NCO, NSTU NETI, and UserGate. The agreement solidifies their intention for the long-term development of the laboratory, including the launch of incentive programs for students and expanding collaboration with other universities and industry representatives based on network learning formats. Specifically, the laboratory will be integrated into the educational process of the Department of Information Security and will encompass all levels of training in the field of «Information Security.»