IIT-K: C3iHub completes second cybersecurity cohort, trains 140 Army personnel

C3iHub, the Technology Innovation Hub on Cybersecurity at IIT Kanpur, on Friday marked the successful completion of the second cohort of its intensive cybersecurity training programme for personnel from the Indian Army’s Central Command at a valedictory function held at the Headquarters, Central Command, in Lucknow.

The latest batch saw 70 Army personnel successfully complete the programme, taking the total number of Army personnel trained by C3iHub to 140 across two cohorts.

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C3iHub’s six-month hybrid Cybersecurity Certification Programme features a structured curriculum designed to develop advanced, industry-ready cybersecurity professionals for defence and civilian security roles. The programme combines academic rigour with practical, tactical application, enabling participants to build strong foundational capabilities before progressing to specialised cyber defence skills.

The programme follows a two-tier learning model comprising a three-month Basic Module and a three-month Advanced Module. Each phase is delivered through a structured hybrid format of 24 in-person sessions (three hours each) and 12 online sessions (two hours each), providing a total of 96 contact hours per module.

While the Basic Module accommodates up to 45 participants, the Advanced Module is reserved for a select group of up to 30 top-performing participants who advance from the foundational phase.

The Basic Module covers core areas such as Linux systems and networking, cyber threat intelligence, operating system security, Security Operations Centre (SOC) operations, and incident response. It also includes hands-on training using industry-standard tools such as Burp Suite, Wireshark, Nmap, Nessus, and Splunk, preparing participants for operational cybersecurity roles.

The Advanced Module focuses on AI-driven security analytics, AI agents for security automation, rule-based log management, Power BI-based log analysis, big-data telemetry, malware analysis, digital and network forensics, and Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT). Both modules conclude with rigorous practical and theoretical assessments, leading to formal certification from C3iHub, IIT Kanpur.

With 140 Army personnel now trained across two cohorts, the initiative underscores the growing collaboration between IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub and the Indian Army’s Central Command to strengthen the nation’s cyber defence capabilities through structured, practice-oriented training.