Ukrtelecom has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Cisco aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity of Ukrainian communities. The first project launched after the signing of the Memorandum was to provide communities with access to Cisco Umbrella DNS, a cloud-based cybersecurity service at the DNS level that is part of the Cisco Security Service Edge (SSE) product portfolio.
Cisco Umbrella DNS protects against malware, viruses, phishing, and other threats by blocking DNS requests for access to malicious sites and applications. The service uses an extensive and constantly updated database of dangerous sites. At the initial stage, the Cisco Umbrella DNS service will be provided to communities free of charge.
The cooperation between the companies is part of the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program in Ukraine. This initiative brings together government, industry, and academia to create safe, resilient, and inclusive communities based on ethical and advanced technological solutions.
Cybersecurity of Ukrainian communities
“In the context of constant cyberattacks and instability of the energy system, our priority is to provide energy-independent optical internet and help strengthen the cybersecurity of Ukrainian communities,” said Igor Yaremchuk, Ukrtelecom’s Chief Commercial Officer.
According to him, the operator is constantly investing in network modernization and implementation of the latest technologies to improve the quality of services and meet the growing needs of its customers. At the same time, cooperation with Cisco on the implementation of Cisco Umbrella will improve the cybersecurity of 550 territorial communities that are currently our customers.
Cybersecurity is an important issue in Ukraine, especially after the full-scale invasion that led to a significant increase in the number of cyberattacks on government information systems, digital resources, and websites.
The need for protection
According to the Cyber Incident Response Center of the State Special Communications Center, the number of registered cyber incidents in 2023 increased by 62.5% compared to 2022. This trend continues in 2024, with Russian intelligence services responsible for 10% of the attacks and affiliated criminal groups for the rest, according to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC).
“The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between Ukrtelecom and Cisco is an important step towards ensuring cybersecurity of local communities. By joining our efforts, we aim to strengthen the resilience of communities to cyber threats,” said Sergiy Martynchuk, CEO of Cisco Ukraine.
He is confident that the implementation of Cisco Umbrella in communities will create a solid foundation for their comprehensive cybersecurity systems.
