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The CYRUS project was more than just an international cybersecurity training initiative for the Polish Platform for Homeland Security (PPHS); it was an important organisational milestone. It proved beyond doubt that flexibility, consistency, and a readiness to act are just as vital as technical expertise.
CYRUS is a European project dedicated to strengthening the resilience of companies against cyber threats. As part of the consortium, PPHS was responsible for developing seven training modules in two languages and various formats (e-learning, webinars, and face-to-face courses). We also oversaw the assessment of all training sessions and provided support across various implementation stages. Now, as the project concludes after three and a half years, we are reflecting on the journey and our most significant takeaways.
In hindsight, the true value lies not just in the results achieved, but in what we learned while navigating the dynamic environment of an EU project. Faced with ambitious targets, a shifting consortium, and the constant need to adapt to our audience, CYRUS became a litmus test for our workflow. It demonstrated that successful initiatives require more than just subject knowledge—they demand a bespoke approach, especially when plans must change on the fly.
The Project in Numbers
- Total people trained: Nearly 6,000 (with almost 58% completing courses delivered by PPHS).
- Final phase impact: Over 10,000 registrations and nearly 4,000 unique participants.
- Geographic reach: 74% of participants were from Poland.
- Training by PPHS: 38 webinars, 9 on-site, 7 modules, 2 languages.
Behind these figures lies the daily, often invisible, work of project teams—making tough decisions, responding to external factors, and finding solutions in conditions that were rarely "perfect."
Country affiliation of unique training participants.
Project Resilience Begins When Conditions Shift
A 50% funding model is not unusual for European projects, but for a non-profit organisation, it represents a genuine challenge. In practice, it requires securing significant self-contribution and managing resources with extreme precision. CYRUS was co-funded in precisely this way by the European Commission under the DIGITAL EUROPE programme
For us, this was a masterclass in planning and accountability. Such projects require more than just a good idea; they require the ability to identify support instruments and build a stable financial foundation. In this instance, we successfully secured support from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education under the " International Co-Financed Projects" programme, without which our participation in CYRUS would have been impossible.
Simultaneously, the project saw changes within the consortium that affected the responsibilities of various partners. While such shifts can cause uncertainty, they also demand decisive action to ensure the project goals are met. For PPHS, this meant transitioning from a Task Leader to a Work Package Leader. This change required rapid adaptation, taking on broader responsibility, and reorganising the team’s workflow under new conditions.
Openness and clear communication with all partners were key to defining a new strategy that was effective and satisfying for the entire consortium. We view this as a natural part of project work—in international initiatives, progress is rarely linear. What matters most is the team’s ability to maintain momentum and stay focused on the ultimate goal.
On-site training in Poznań, Poland.
Free Training: A Lesson in Accessibility and Engagement
The project opted to offer training free of charge. While this increases accessibility and reaches a wider audience—crucial in the field of cybersecurity—it presents unique challenges for a training organisation. The market is saturated with free educational initiatives; simply making a course available does not guarantee interest or engagement.
This experience taught us that even with free training, content quality, communication style, and the ability to hold an audience's attention are paramount. To meet ambitious targets, the creation and promotion of free courses must be handled with the same rigour as paid services—focusing on visual appeal, dynamic delivery, and creative messaging.
E-learning is a Process, Not Just a Platform
One of our primary focuses was the development of e-learning. CYRUS provided a sandbox to test various solutions, from platform selection and course structure to material formats and participant engagement techniques.
Some solutions were dictated by project requirements—reporting, data collection, knowledge assessment, and certification. Others resulted from our own experimentation, including the use of new AI-based tools.
As part of the project, we developed and offered seven training modules: three in English and four in Polish. These included courses on the Introduction of Cybersecurity, Data Encryption and Ransomware, as well as a module on information security policy, available exclusively in Polish.
Our key takeaway? E-learning is not simply moving a classroom session online. It is a distinct process of designing a participant experience that requires both technological infrastructure and pedagogical expertise. Finding the "sweet spot" between user comfort and formal project requirements was a significant challenge for the team.
Evaluation that Drives Better Decisions
PPHS was responsible for the assessment of the training—a task often dismissed as a mere formal box-ticking exercise. Our goal, however, was to use it as a genuine learning tool.
Dawid Rachmajda
PPHS Trainer and Expert
Participant feedback was a vital source of information on how the training worked in practice. It allowed us to better understand the needs, expectations, and barriers of our audience. We could then refine content, formats, and delivery methods while the project was still ongoing. This is particularly valuable in cybersecurity, where effective training must be more than just factually correct—it must be understandable, practical, and tailored to the real-world situations participants face.
In practice, every additional survey can discourage a user and decrease the likelihood of them finishing a course. We had to balance the need for data with the user experience. Despite this, with a scale of several thousand participants, we gained a very clear picture of what works and what needs to change.
Effective Communication Starts Locally
In European projects, English is the default language, which simplifies coordination. However, in CYRUS, we quickly realised that for training aimed at specific professional groups, it is worth the extra effort to switch to local languages. This closes the gap, builds trust, and ensures the educational offer feels relevant to the participant's reality.
Meeting our audience's needs meant more than just choosing the right language; it meant flexibly adapting content and format for different industries. The same "Introduction to Cybersecurity" module was delivered as both a webinar and a live session, each time updated with relevant content and modified to suit the specific context of the participants.
We also tested various promotional approaches. Not every "intuitive" solution was successful, and many actions had to be modified in real-time based on actual participant behaviour. Over time, we developed approaches that worked, even if they weren't obvious at the start.
Success through Solution-Oriented Cooperation
While we faced specific challenges, every partner had their own perspective and hurdles.
Elizabeth Duda
Project Manager
PPBW
International projects involve the collaboration of organisations with different goals, experiences, and cultures. It is natural that engagement levels and work paces vary. In CYRUS, an approach based on a few simple principles worked well: a focus on substance, clear communication, transparent division of tasks, and a readiness to find solutions when difficulties arise. These aren't spectacular mechanisms, but in practice, they are what determine whether a project moves forward.
Looking Ahead
CYRUS was a demanding project, but an incredibly rewarding one. While we are proud of our successes, the difficulties and setbacks were equally important—they taught us the most. They have strengthened our expertise in training, e-learning, assessment, communication, and international cooperation.
The project proved that even in challenging conditions, real results are achievable if a team can remain both flexible and consistent.
If you are looking for an experienced partner for educational, research, or implementation projects within the broad field of security, we invite you to contact the Polish Platform for Homeland Security.
