The Information Security Workshop was held from 11 to 13 August 2025 at the German Jordanian University (GJU) as part of the EUMEDplus project, marking an important step in strengthening cybersecurity capabilities within the Jordanian research and education community. The workshop was jointly organized by JUNet, GJU, and the Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN), reflecting a shared commitment to developing resilient and secure digital infrastructures.
Workshop Content
The program covered a range of essential cybersecurity topics, including:
Computer security concepts
Symmetric and public key cryptography
Data integrity and user authentication
Cryptographic key management
Federated identity management
Each session combined conceptual explanations with hands-on practical exercises, allowing participants to directly apply and reinforce the knowledge gained.
Participants and Trainers
The workshop targeted network engineers and system administrators working in computing centers and Network Operations Centers (NOCs). It brought together around 28 participants from Jordanian universities, JUNet, SESAME, GJU, and the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education (PalREN), fostering cross-institutional knowledge exchange.
The workshop was delivered by Eriko Porto (ASREN), an experienced expert in research and education networking and information security, with extensive experience supporting NRENs across Latin America, the Caribbean, and other regions.
Learning Outcomes and Impact
By the end of the workshop, participants demonstrated an improved ability to understand and articulate key information security principles, differentiate between cryptographic systems, and evaluate mechanisms for data integrity, authentication, and identity federation. The workshop also increased awareness of current cybersecurity challenges and best practices relevant to research and education networks.
To support continued collaboration, a dedicated Microsoft Teams channel was established to share materials, facilitate discussions, and encourage ongoing knowledge exchange beyond the workshop. All training materials, including presentations and hands-on labs, were made available online for future reference.
Feedback and Next Steps
Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the quality of the content, the value of the hands-on exercises, and the clarity and expertise of the trainer. Suggestions for future activities included deeper coverage of real-world security applications and extending the duration to explore advanced topics such as penetration testing and AI in cybersecurity.
Overall, the workshop successfully achieved its capacity-building and awareness-raising objectives, laying a strong foundation for future cybersecurity initiatives and long-term collaboration within the Jordanian and regional research and education communities.
The three-day, in-person workshop aimed to enhance both the theoretical understanding and practical skills of participants in core areas of information security. Through structured sessions and interactive discussions, attendees explored fundamental concepts in computer security, cryptography, data protection, and identity management—key components for securing modern digital environments.
