# Developing a Cybersecurity Training Environment through the Integration of OpenAI and AWS
## 2 Materials and Methods
### Test Environment Configuration  
The test environment setup is a strategic combination of specific hardware and software, along with robust network configuration and security measures. Regarding hardware, the test environment is based on virtual servers provided by Amazon EC2, selected for  
Figure 2: Architecture of the integrated cybersecurity training environment (source: authors’ elaboration).  
their ability to scale and handle intensive workloads. These servers are equipped with high-speed processors, a significant amount of RAM (depending on the simulation scenario's needs), and SSD storage for fast data access.  
The latest stable version of the Linux operating system (Ubuntu 14.04), known for its robustness and security, is used on the software side. AI simulations and processing are carried out using the latest versions of OpenAI tools, such as GPT-3 for natural language processing and DALL-E v2 for image generation [34]. Various cybersecurity tools and monitoring software are also implemented to monitor and record activities within the testing environment [35].  
The network configuration in the developed test environment is critical to ensure functionality and security. Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) creates an isolated virtual network on AWS, allowing us to define and control the network space, including selecting IP ranges, creating subnets, and configuring route tables and network gateways [36]. For network security, security groups are implemented on EC2 and network access control lists (NACLs) within VPCs to regulate incoming and outgoing traffic to servers and between subnets. Additionally, AWS Shield protects against denial of service (DDoS) attacks [37].  
Regarding data security, all communications within the environment are encrypted using industry-standard security protocols. Data stored in Amazon S3 is encrypted both in transit and at rest. Additionally, IAM policies are implemented to control access to AWS services and resources precisely and securely. To ensure the integrity of the test environment, security audits are conducted, and incident response procedures are implemented to handle any detected vulnerabilities or threats quickly.  
Figure 3 presents a schematic representation of the cybersecurity testing environment, highlighting the integration of critical infrastructure components and AI tools. At the environment's core, a VPC on AWS hosts Amazon EC2 instances, essential for running applications and simulating cyberattacks in a controlled, sandboxed space. Security groups protect these instances and connect to the Internet through a gateway, allowing controlled access and communication with external services [38]. Within this secure environment, OpenAI's natural language processing and image generation capabilities, provided by GPT-3 and DALL-E, respectively, are used to create and analyze dynamic content. Simulating complex interactions and generating realistic test scenarios that improve cybersecurity training methods are vital.  
Additionally, the figure illustrates the presence of AWS Shield, a protection layer that strengthens the system's resilience against outages and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. This scheme reflects a holistic and advanced approach to creating a cybersecurity sandbox, where security, scalability, and innovation are fundamental to developing practical skills and preparation against cyber threats.