Title : Trends in AI-Based Network Monitoring
Biography
Dr. Axel Sikora is an associate professor at Offenburg University, Germany, where he serves as Scientific Director of the Institute of Reliable Embedded Systems and Communication Electronics, a leading R&D institute for IIoT connectivity solutions. He is also deputy director of Hahn-Schickard Association of Applied Research, where he manages the division “Software Solutions”, including several research groups around AI. Dr. Sikora is also engaging in several standardization activities around secure and efficient IIoT connectivity. Since many years, he is serving as chairman of the embedded world Conference, the world’s largest event on the topic. In parallel, he is engaged in some deep-tech spinoff companies.
Abstract
Secure and safe operation of data networks needs to be monitored. Whereas legacy monitoring and intrusion detection systems (IDS) are in place. However, the traditional IDS, which are rule-based, are falling short, as they are insufficient against dynamic threats. The keynote discusses actual trends end development for AI-Based Network Monitoring, concentrating on IIoT- and OT-networks, showing the complete pipeline from data set generation, training mechanisms, and applications.
Baskoro Adi Pratomo
Networking Technologies and Intelligent Cyber Security Laboratory – Department of Informatics – Faculty of Intelligent Electrical and Informatics Technology
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
Title: Adaptive Training Platform for Supporting Differentiated Learning in Cyber Security
Baskoro Adi Pratomo is a lecturer and Head of the Subdirectorate for Digital Applications and Platforms at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya, Indonesia. With a background in network security and malware analysis, he is the Principal Investigator of the ITS Nabu project—an open-source cybersecurity training platform featuring adaptive learning modes. His research and community engagement span digital forensics, intrusion detection, and AI-assisted cyber defense. Under his leadership, ITS Nabu has trained hundreds of participants from academia, government, and industry, and has been recognised by international bodies, including the APNIC Foundation and QS Reimagine Education (2024). Baskoro collaborates with partners in the UK, Malaysia, and across Southeast Asia to expand access to cybersecurity education and build a regional cyber defense ecosystem. He is also instrumental in the development of Indonesia’s first cyber range, designed to simulate realistic cyber-attack scenarios for training and evaluation.
Abstract
Cybersecurity education often faces high entry barriers due to complex prerequisite knowledge and uniform training methods that fail to accommodate diverse learner backgrounds. Our training platform, ITS Nabu, addresses this challenge through an adaptive training platform built on a cyber range environment, enabling learners to experience realistic attack and defense simulations. Its adaptive mode dynamically adjusts challenge difficulty based on user performance.
Based on training sessions conducted across universities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the UK, ITS Nabu has shown promise in increasing engagement, reducing frustration, and broadening participation among learners with varied skill levels. Built using open-source technologies and scalable virtualisation, it empowers institutions to implement customised, inclusive cybersecurity training. This talk discusses ITS Nabu’s adaptive learning framework, deployment insights, and its potential to democratize cybersecurity education through differentiated learning approaches.
Rajkumar Kettimuthu
Senior Scientist and Group Leader, Argonne National Laboratory
Title: Vertical AI for Scientific Discovery: From Data to Decisions Across Scales
Rajkumar Kettimuthu is a Senior Scientist and Group Leader at Argonne National Laboratory, a Senior Scientist at The University of Chicago, and a Senior Fellow at Northwestern University. His research spans high-performance computing, AI for science, advanced networking, and quantum communication. He has co-authored nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications and played a leading role in developing GridFTP and Globus, technologies that revolutionized large-scale scientific data management and transfer. A recipient of the R&D 100 Award and a Distinguished Member of ACM, Dr. Kettimuthu’s current work focuses on AI-driven scientific workflows and the design of scalable quantum networks that bridge computing, communication, and experimentation.
Abstract
Artificial intelligence is transforming how we conduct scientific discovery, from accelerating imaging experiments and materials design to advancing quantum information and networking. Scientific domains present unique challenges: data are complex and noisy, experiments are expensive, and models must incorporate physical principles and domain expertise. These needs have given rise to Vertical AI, a new paradigm where AI systems are purpose-built for specific scientific contexts. In this talk, I will discuss how Vertical AI can enable breakthroughs by integrating machine learning with experimental workflows, simulations, and large-scale computing. Drawing on examples from Argonne’s research in AI-guided imaging, materials discovery, and quantum network simulation and optimization, I will highlight how domain-aware AI can enable real-time feedback, predictive modeling, and autonomous scientific exploration.