SET Cyber Labs: US-Ukraine Partnership Breaks New Ground in Cybersecurity
In a groundbreaking move signaling a strengthening bond between the US and Ukraine in the tech sphere, SET University, a Ukrainian non-profit academic institution, and US-based Hilltop Technologies have officially launched SET Cyber Labs. This new cybersecurity venture is set to offer round-the-clock, custom-fit cybersecurity solutions for businesses, non-profits, and academic institutions.
With its newly opened office in Kyiv, SET Cyber Labs is poised to become part of Ukraine’s Diia City legal framework. It’s the first startup to enter Ukraine via Diia City in 2024 and notably the first US tech startup to establish R&D operations in Ukraine in collaboration with a university since the onset of the war.
SET Cyber Labs is a powerful fusion of Hilltop Technologies’ cutting-edge US cybersecurity expertise and Ukraine’s battle-hardened cyber defense resilience. The startup’s core mission is to extend vital cybersecurity expertise to organizations most in need – higher education institutions, small and medium businesses, and non-profits – who may lack in-house cybersecurity resources.
Nick Gicinto, Co-Founder at Hilltop Technologies, shared his enthusiasm: “I’m thrilled to partner with SET University in this unique international initiative. We are partnering with Ukraine because it is on the frontlines of the cybersecurity battlefield, and Hilltop’s mission to make cybersecurity accessible to all starts with the brave people in Ukraine. Our educational partnership with SET University gives us an unprecedented opportunity to educate the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.”
Ukraine has been a bulwark of cyber resilience for years, facing relentless daily cyberattacks from Russia. The country has become an unwilling testing ground for Russia to develop new cyberattack strategies before deploying them in the US and Western Europe. This unique expertise, coupled with a well-developed tech ecosystem, makes Ukraine an invaluable partner in the global cybersecurity landscape.
Iryna Volnytska, President of SET University, echoed this sentiment: “While the global companies and investors are hesitant to start doing business in Ukraine due to the full-scale Russian invasion, Hilltop Technologies are showing to the world that Ukraine has a strong potential and great pull of talent. Ukrainian tech sector has a well-developed ecosystem, skilled workforce, specific legal space Diia City with very attractive legal and financial terms. This kind of international collaboration strengthens our global security efforts while providing university students with valuable hands-on experience. I’m honored that SET University is a part of this initiative, and I’m grateful to our partners, Hilltop Technologies, for their ongoing support.”
SET Cyber Labs is actively developing the cybersecurity platform Volt, designed as a Software as a Service (SaaS) product. Volt will offer a wide array of services including 24/7 managed detection and response, endpoint security and detection, advanced cloud and network security, and AI-driven phishing analysis. It will also feature an integrated virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) service to provide expert cybersecurity guidance to organizations.
SET Cyber Labs’ vision extends beyond merely providing cybersecurity services. A portion of its proceeds will be channeled towards student scholarships in cybersecurity at SET University and the advancement of technology education in Ukraine.
Strategically located in Ukraine as a subsidiary of US-based Hilltop Technologies, SET Cyber Labs is uniquely positioned to provide continuous, round-the-clock support to customers worldwide. This ensures constant monitoring and rapid response to cyber threats, wherever they may arise.
About Hilltop Technologies and SET University:
Hilltop Technologies, a newly launched cybersecurity startup based in Kansas City, Missouri, was founded by a team including a serial entrepreneur, a CIA veteran and former top cybersecurity executive at Tesla and Uber, and a lecturer at SET University, Nick Gicinto. At the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, Hilltop Technologies develops technology for endpoint detection and response (EDR) and managed detection and response (MDR) capabilities, aiming to make the highest level of defense and security accessible to all organizations. The company is also deeply committed to training the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.
SET University is a pioneering academic institution reimagining higher education through the lens of science, entrepreneurship, and technology. Based in Ukraine, SET University empowers innovators to shape the changing world and cultivates future tech leaders to rebuild the Ukrainian economy. It offers transformative educational approaches, fosters startup development, and unites the brightest minds in tech and science.