The Cyber Capital project renewed cybercrime prevention education to meet today's requirements

In the Cyber Capital project, the development areas of the authorities' cybercrime prevention expertise were identified more comprehensively than before, and the training content of cybercrime prevention was renewed using the knowledge accumulated during the project. The effort generated new expertise and strengthened international cooperation.

The competence needs of today's cybercrime prevention were met in cooperation between the Police University College (Polamk) and the Jamk University of Applied Sciences (Jamk), when the development of specialized cybercrime prevention training for authorities began in the Cyber Capital project funded by the European Union's Internal Security Fund.

"At the outset, cybercrime and digital operating environments were already part of everyday crime prevention work, but the need for specialized expertise had grown rapidly: investigative processes, technical methods and the criminals’ methods are constantly evolving. We needed a training programme that brings together the competence requirements of modern cybercrime prevention and supports the practical work of the police and other authorities, as well as cooperation with other actors," says Tomislav Kukulj, Senior Specialist at the Police University College.

More than 1 500 authorities participated in updated cybercrime prevention training during the project, which focused on the key areas of cybercrime prevention. According to the follow up surveys of the training, almost all respondents reported using the skills and knowledge gained from the courses in their work within one to three months after completing the training. The training was considered topical and useful, and the practicality, perspective suitable for an operational authority environment, and up-to-date and high-quality teaching combined with the training were particularly appreciated.

Improved Ability to Detect and Prevent Cybercrime

Thanks to the training needs assessment carried out during the project, the competence gaps of the authorities were identified more comprehensively than before, and the updated training content could be targeted at actual needs.

"The project resulted in more appropriate specialization studies that are better suited to practical work. The authorities' ability to identify and combat criminal phenomena in the cyber operating environment improved," says Project Coordinator Noora Järvensivu from the Police University College.

Over the three-year project, international cooperation was further developed, the skills of the authorities were tested in cyber exercise, and the use of artificial intelligence in combating against cybercrime was studied.

"Cybercrime and the related need for training are also global, so training cooperation between foreign authorities has been conscious and desirable. Common interests and overlapping training needs and competence objectives have been obvious, so cooperation and international competence development have been sensible in all respects and efficient in terms of resources," says Toni Kranz, Senior Specialist at the Police University College.

"There is a fairly strict framework for the use of artificial intelligence, within which the authorities can operate. It is also very important for the authorities to keep track of how criminals may exploit new technologies. These issues were also mapped out within the framework of the project," says Specialist Vesa Vertainen from Jamk.

More information about the Cyber-X exercise held in March 2025 in a separate news article.

Cyber Capital project results in new expertise

The new expertise enabled by the Cyber Capital project responds directly to the need to strengthen the ability of the police and other authorities to:

• respond to cybercrime more quickly and effectively
• investigate cybercrimes in a high-quality manner in situations where the key evidence is digital evidence
• combine technical expertise with criminal proceedings (legislation, authority powers, ethics)
• utilize up-to-date tools and methods in a rapidly changing operating environment
• improve comprehensive cybercrime prevention expertise at both local and national level
• improve international cooperation and interoperability in combating against cross-border cybercrime.

The results presented in the article are the results of the Cyber Capital project. The project has been funded by the European Union's Internal Security Fund (ISF). In the project, Jamk University of Applied Sciences (Jamk) and Police University College (Polamk) collaborate to update, develop and deliver specialization training for cybercrime prevention.