Scalable Cybersecurity Training: Integrating Virtual and Physical Security Teaching Environments

Abstract

The number of cybersecurity incidents increases year over year. Cybersecurity education requires hands-on experience to protect infrastructure and services against hackers. However, existing teaching infrastructures face scalability and hardware integration challenges. This paper presents a semivirtualized security teaching infrastructure combining virtual infrastructure, physical hardware access, and an Attack & Defense framework. The infrastructure is based on a Proxmox cluster, managed through a self-developed platform that allows parallel access to different courses. The teaching concept enables students to solve team-based exercises on personal laptops. Using personal laptops motivates students to create and maintain their own set of tools for cybersecurity analysis. Automated scoring and hardware interaction enhance engagement, providing a flexible platform for practical cybersecurity training.