The Faculty of Secure Information Technologies is a modern faculty with a long history that blends academic traditions and an innovative training approach. The faculty aims to produce highly-skilled specialists in information and cybersecurity, functional safety of autonomous transport vehicles, and design of cyberphysical systems for data protection. Our graduates are professionals sought after by Russian and international companies and organizations.

Education

The faculty’s laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art computers, information security tools, and software and hardware complexes developed by leading manufacturers: Positive Technologies, Infotecs, SearchInform, and the Business Espionage Counteraction Laboratory. Some pieces of equipment are used for unique research tasks.

Starting their first year, Bachelor’s students are immersed in their future career, actively enhancing their programming skills, researching information security, designing complex integrated security systems, and completing varied internships.

The faculty offers a computer cluster for educational environments simulation, alongside different resources for resource-intensive calculations and experiments. 

During their studies, Master’s students are free to focus on their management skills or opt to pursue an academic career. 

The faculty actively develops network Master’s programs in cooperation with Russia’s top companies as both executives and future employers. These include Sberbank, Gazprom Neft, Evrika, StarLine, and Elektroavtomatika. 

The faculty maintains close ties with a number of universities in terms of implementing international educational programs and research activities.

For PhD students, the faculty offers programs within the subject area 05.13.19 Methods and Means of Information Security, Information Security.

Research

The faculty includes scientific laboratories and centers that conduct fundamental and applied research in the following areas of study:

• secure cyberphysical systems;

• development of information security tools;

• functional safety of autonomous transport vehicles;

• theory of information and coding;

• information processes on the internet and security of the virtual environment; 

• intelligent, secure systems for multi-agent interaction, etc. 

The faculty supports students in organizing and participating in research studies. In their second year, Bachelor’s students, if having enough competencies, can join one of the ongoing research projects.

Research laboratories and centers:

• International Scientific and Academic Center “Security and Safety for Critical Digital Technologies”;

• Laboratory of Cryptographic Methods of Information Security;

• Cyber Testing Ground – Learning Center;

• Laboratory of Validation and Verification of Complex Technical Systems.

The faculty also boasts several research teams involved in:

• design and study of cryptographic algorithms and information security methods in cyberphysical systems;

• development of purpose-specific systems and quantum communications;

• monitoring of information flows and analysis of dissemination on the internet;

• identification of internet users and  authorship;

• computer forensics;

• engineering and technical information security.

Competitive hacking contests. Training and teams

ITMO teams have been participating in CTF (Capture the Flag) competitions since 2009; four of the university's teams are in the top 15 of Russia’s best teams in competitive hacking. In 2019, the team Kappa took the crown at CTF Cup Russia.

By competing in CTF, players acquire up-to-date skills in practical information security. These competitions are an excellent chance to not only boost your skills but also gain yourself a name as a cybersecurity specialist and receive a job offer. Experienced players of the SPbCTF community regularly hold trainings to share their expertise and help beginners prepare for contests.

Professors and teaching staff

The faculty includes over 20 professors, including such outstanding researchers as Sergei Arustamov, Sergey Bezzateev, Yury Gatchin, Alexey Grishentsev, Igor Zharinov, Anatoly Korobeynikov, Igor Kotenko, Boris Kudryashov, Vera Tkalich, Ilya Livshits, Peter Trifonov, and Viktor Shved.

Professional and pre-graduation practical training

Students complete their practical training at and are sought after by many organizations and enterprises. These are: 

• Central Bank of Russia;

• Sberbank;

• Gazprom Neft;

• St. Petersburg Institute for Informatics and Automation of the Russian Academy of Sciences;

• Business Espionage Counteraction Laboratory;

• Almaz-Antey Corporation;

• Elektroavtomatika;

• Radar MMS;

• Masshtab;

• Kaspersky Lab;

• Dr. Web;

• Digital Security;

• Spetsproject;

• Positive Technologies, etc.

Bachelor’s programs

Information Security Technologies

10.03.01 Information Security
11.03.03 Design and Technology of Electronic Devices

Master’s programs

AI Systems Security

10.04.01 Information Security

Information Security

10.04.01 Information Security

Unmanned Systems Security

11.04.03 Design and Technology of Electronic Devices
23.04.03 Operation of Transport and Technological Machines and Systems