The Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland is providing opportunities for ethical hackers to gain practical experience in the field while studying in collaboration with Abertay University.

Aiming to bridge the gap between academia and industry, the partnership provides students with real-world scenarios and experience in a safe and controlled environment.

Through their collaboration with Abertay University, the Cyber and Fraud Centre allows students to actively contribute to the Centre’s professional cyber services.

Key skills harnessed in the exercise include conducting vulnerability scans on organisations’ IT infrastructure and engaging in phishing resilience exercised, utilising advanced facilities and tools.

The ethical hacking students at the Centre also engage with the Exercise in a Box programme, which offers organisations a hands-on opportunity to navigate realistic cyber threat scenarios, enabling them to assess their response capabilities, and identify areas for improvement.

By applying the theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom to actual situations, ethical hacking students can emerge with more experience, preparing them to counter threats in the real world.

Located at Abertay University’s cyberQuarter, a  hub for cyber security research, development, and economic growth, the Cyber and Fraud Centre’s team of 25+ ethical hackers, are well positioned to harness their skills.

So far, the Centre’s ethical hacking team have developed a range of online resources, including  An Introduction to Cyber Security Guide which was published last August.

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Furthermore, the team recently unveiled the Cyber Strategy Guide for Small Organisations, which aimed to make robust cyber strategies accessible for small businesses.

As well, the ethical hacking team has provided regular cyber threat updates for the Cyber and Fraud Centre’s Threat Intelligence Portal  and the CyberScotland  Technical Bulletin to keep organisations informed on the latest threats and mitigation strategies.

Heidi Domagala, a first-year ethical hacking student working at the Centre, said:  “My experience at the Cyber and Fraud Centre has been invaluable in enhancing my understanding of the pervasive cyber threats we encounter daily, often without even realising it. As a first-year student, I actively contribute to the Centre’s Exercise in a Box sessions alongside my fellow hackers.

“Studying at Abertay University provides me with a solid foundation for acquiring the necessary skills to navigate the cyber world. However, working at the Centre allows me to apply those skills in ways that extend beyond the academic setting. By the time I graduate, I will be equipped with the confidence and capabilities to make valuable contributions to the field.”