Automation simulation for the JYVSECTEC cybersecurity environment

Automation Infrastructure and Digitalization Software development

The IT Institute JYVSECTEC at JAMK University of Applied Sciences has developed an advanced cybersecurity research, development, and training environment, where Finland’s most significant cybersecurity exercises are conducted. Nodeon is collaborating with JYVSECTEC to develop an environment capable of simulating cybersecurity scenarios related to automation environments.

JYVSECTEC‘s RGCE (Realistic Global Cyber Environment) is a highly advanced simulation environment of the Internet and its real structures and services. It includes core Internet services such as public IP addresses, name and time services, certificate infrastructure, inter-operator peering points, internal organizational networks, cloud and data center services, web services, social media, online banking, electronic currency, and the capability to generate network traffic. This traffic generation is crucial for cybersecurity exercises as it produces realistic user and anomaly traffic within the environment.

Mies esittelee simulaatiota näytöllä messuosastolla — Nodeon’s simulation of the Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel presented at the cybersecurity fair at JYVSECTEC’s exhibition booth.

The simulation in extensive use in cybersecurity exercises

Nodeon’s extensive experience in implementing automation systems and broad ICT expertise in software, telecommunications, and cybersecurity convinced JYVSECTEC to choose Nodeon as its partner in the development of the cybersecurity environment. The project aimed to build an automation system simulation that could be utilized in future cybersecurity exercises organized by JYVSECTEC.

As a result of the development work, a simulation of the tunnel’s traffic management and power distribution systems was implemented, using authentic SCADA products and PLC devices. The simulation allows modeling of threats and evaluation of organizations’ capabilities in serious cyber threat scenarios.

The system has been actively used in cybersecurity exercises of major Finnish organizations, where it can simulate connections of tunnel infrastructure to other national critical infrastructures, such as the nationwide electricity distribution network.