In Vienna, IT security experts worked together to train in defending against cyber attacks as part of a realistic exercise – a report that was broadcast on February 27, 2026, on the ORF program Mayrs Magazin – Wissen für alle (Mayr's Magazine – Knowledge for All). The focus was on both the technical challenges and the importance of practical preparation.
In view of the sharp increase in the number of digital attacks on companies and organizations, the AIT Cyber Range is becoming increasingly important as a digital training and simulation space. In this environment, IT professionals deal with simulated hacker scenarios in order to refine defense and response strategies without risk to real systems.
Practical exercises and expert assessments
The Mayrs Magazine article also features experts who emphasize the importance of such exercises:
- Petra Kölndorfer, Senior Administrator at the Center for Digital Safety & Security, emphasizes how important it is not only to master technology, but also to train communication and team processes in stressful situations. In this way, the AIT Cyber Range puts people at the center—because effective defense begins with rapid detection, clear thinking, and coordinated cooperation.
- Gregor Langner, an expert in cybersecurity training at the Center for Digital Safety & Security, emphasizes in an interview the authenticity of the simulated attacks and that realistic scenarios in particular help to identify and close vulnerabilities at an early stage. For him, the AIT Cyber Range is a central building block for transforming specialist knowledge into practical skills.
Why AIT Cyber Range training matters
Such training is essential for modern IT organizations: attacks such as ransomware waves, phishing campaigns, or targeted infiltrations are no longer the exception. The AIT Cyber Range enables teams to practice under realistic conditions, analyze mistakes, and optimize response strategies without compromising systems.
By combining theory, realistic simulations, and post-event reflection, this form of training not only strengthens technical competence, but also the situational judgment and action potential of the participants.
See the entire article here: https://on.orf.at/video/14312907/16044322/cyber-angriffe-it-profis-proben-den-ernstfall-mayrs-magazin-wissen-fuer-alle-vom-27022026