The country's largest fixed-line operator Ukrtelecom has signed a memorandum with the American network equipment manufacturer Cisco, which will provide software products to 550 territorial communities in Ukraine to protect against cyber threats, its press service reported on Wednesday.

"Cooperation with Cisco on the implementation of Cisco Umbrella will improve the level of cyber security for 550 territorial communities that are our clients," said Ukrtelecom Commercial Director Ihor Yaremchuk.

The first project to be launched after the signing of the memorandum will be providing communities with access to Cisco Umbrella DNS, a cloud-based DNS-level cybersecurity service from the Cisco Security Service Edge (SSE) product portfolio," Ukrtelecom clarified.

It is also stated that 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.

According to the press release, the cooperation is part of the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program in Ukraine, which brings together the efforts of government, industry and scientists to create safe, sustainable and inclusive communities based on ethical and advanced technological solutions.

The company emphasized the importance of implementing cybersecurity tools in territorial communities amid an increase in the number of cyberattacks after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Cyber Incident Response Center of the State Special Communications Service, the number of registered cyber incidents in 2023 increased by 62.5% compared to 2022. This trend continues in 2024, with Russian special services behind 10% of attacks, and affiliated criminal groups behind the rest, the report says, citing data from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

"The signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Ukrtelecom and Cisco is an important step towards ensuring the cybersecurity of territorial communities. By combining our efforts, we strive to strengthen the resilience of communities to cyber threats. We are confident that the implementation of Cisco Umbrella in communities will create a solid foundation for their comprehensive cybersecurity systems," commented Cisco CEO in Ukraine Serhiy Martynchuk.