By Cyber Era NG Correspondents
The world’s first international training centre dedicated to enhancing nuclear security, The IAEA’s Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre (NSTDC), opened its doors in Seibersdorf, Austria, in October 2023. Three years into its existence, how it has been supporting nuclear security worldwide is examined.
The NSTDC helps countries establish and strengthen their national nuclear security regimes to prevent, detect and respond to acts and threats of nuclear terrorism.
Thousands of professionals have received hands-on training in physical protection, detection and response, information and computer security and other technical areas of nuclear security tailored to their countries’ needs.
In its first three years, the NSTDC has hosted 140 events with more than 2300 participants from over 120 countries.
In post-training surveys, over 70 per cent of participants reported that they have applied the knowledge and skills gained through the training in their professional work.
NSTDC training provides a realistic operational setting where participants build the practical skills to protect nuclear and associated facilities, and nuclear and other radioactive material, from nuclear security threats.
The NSTDC’s state-of-the-art facilities feature a simulation of a central alarm station equipped with multiple workstations that can be configured for training in alarm monitoring, access control, video monitoring and computer security.
The NSTDC also has a physical protection demonstration room where trainees can configure, use and test various physical protection components, such as access controls and surveillance cameras.
The NSTDC is equipped with classrooms and demonstration capabilities, including a nuclear forensics demonstration laboratory equipped with microscopes, a glove box and other equipment.
Using specialized equipment, trainees learn how to collect evidence of radioactive material, package and transport it to a laboratory, and analyze it to support criminal investigations.
As a cross-cutting domain, information and computer security is integrated into all NSTDC training activities.
The IAEA maintains a computer security operations centre (CSOC) in the NSTDC for operational technology and physical protection. CSOCs play an essential role in monitoring and detecting unauthorized acts by providing centralized, real-time threat detection, incident response and security monitoring. This enables nuclear facilities to proactively identify and mitigate potential cyber threats.
The NSTDC currently offers 31 training courses and continues to expand its capabilities to meet emerging needs.
Courses include practical, hands-on training in physical protection and computer security of radioactive material and associated facilities specifically designed for countries participating in, or planning to join, the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative.
The Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre is supported by financial and in-kind contributions, and it welcomes partners interested in supporting its work.
As of October 2026, the NSTDC has received support from Armenia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the European Union.
- Editor’s Note: Follow the link below to read the infographics in the original article: https://www.iaea.org/news/photoessay/iaea-training-centre-builds-practical-skills-for-nuclear-security
