Azerbaijan to conduct simulations to prevent cyberattacks on vital infrastructure

Azerbaijan’s State Service for Special Communications and Information Security has announced that it would conduct large-scale simulations of cyberattacks on key infrastructure facilities, including oil refining control systems.

Deputy Head of the Main Department of the State Service, Tural Mammadov, revealed during the Critical Infrastructure Defence Challenge 2025 Cybersecurity Festival (The CIDC-2025) in Baku that the simulation program will cover three main domains: air, land, and sea infrastructure, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“This primarily concerns critical infrastructure across air, land, and maritime sectors. For example, an air simulation may involve airport or aircraft control, while land-based scenarios could include taxi tracking, traffic light systems, public transport, and contactless payment terminals. The maritime simulation will focus on oil platforms, modelling cyberattacks targeting oil refining management systems,” Mammadov explained.

The CIDC-2025, the largest cybersecurity event in the region, is currently taking place at the Baku Convention Centre and will continue on October 9–10. 

Organised by the State Service of Special Communication and Information Security in cooperation with the State Security Service (SSS), the festival brings together over 2,200 visitors, 934 training participants, 51 teams, and 56 partner organisations, aiming to strengthen public–private cooperation and enhance the protection of critical infrastructure. 

The event features presentations, panel discussions, training sessions, and the main virtual cyberwarfare competition “Cyberwarfare in Smart Cities,” where local and international teams showcase their skills in defending digital infrastructures.

By Khagan Isayev