WB3C Balkans Regional Conference

11.06.2024

On June 11-12 June, Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) hosted its first regional conference, a landmark event drawing over 100 professionals from the region's public administrations, international bodies, and local stakeholders. The conference, which featured four thematic panels, offered a platform to address the dynamic and pressing challenges in cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy.

Panel Overview:

Panel 1: Cyber Resilience and Critical Infrastructure

Chaired by Lt. Col. Yannick Ragonneau, the first panel set the tone for the conference, focusing on cyber resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure. Representatives from both government and private sectors, including experts from the French Ministry of Interiorand ArcelorMittal, discussed collaborative approaches and best practices for defending essential services and assets.

Panel 2: Evolution of Cybercrime Phenomena and International Criminal Assistance

Colonel Laurent Baille moderated a critical discussion on evolving cyber threats and the necessity of robust international cooperation. The panel highlighted effective strategies for international criminal assistance and the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to create a safer digital environment.

Panel 3: Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Cybersecurity

Cyber Ambassador Vladimir Vucinic led the third panel, which delved into the impact of AI on global security, responsible usage, and the intertwined challenges of rapid technological advancement and privacy concerns. The dialogue underscored the importance of good data governance and strategic AI adoption in law enforcement and policymaking.

Panel 4: Navigating the Cyber Landscape Through Cyber Diplomacy

The final panel, guided by Tadej Rupel, Slovenia's Cyber and Digital Ambassador, explored the critical aspects of cyber diplomacy. Discussions focused on the EU's role, private sector engagement, and civil society’s contributions to fostering international cyber policy dialogues. This panel highlighted the essential role of entities like ENISA in capacity building and the increasing reliance on AI to support diplomatic efforts, especially for resource-constrained environments.

On Day 2, we focused on the application of the pre-diagnostic tool Diagonal, which was

donated to the Western Balkans administrations. The tool is designed to help administrations:

Assess cyber maturity: Understand the current level of cybersecurity within the administration.
Identify improvements: Suggest both human and technical areas for enhancement.
Collect data: Gather statistical information on prevalent cyber threats.

On 12 June, WB3C instructors provided a workshop to the representatives of the WB6 on the effective use of the tool and its features.

Summary:

The WB3C Regional Conference mapped out the landscape of cybersecurity challenges and opportunities in the Western Balkans. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, the conference both provided valuable insights and proposed solutions to certain challenges, and it reinforced the necessity for continued dialogue and cooperation in the cyber domain underpinned by full commitment of governments towards creating a future proof cyber environment.

Other news and events

Visit by CBRN Centres of Excellence Project 101

WB3C was pleased to meet with representatives of the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Project 101 to discuss potential cooperation in strengthening critical infrastructure protection and security.
The exchange with Alexandre Custaud, EU CBRN CoE Project 101 Team Leader and Scott S. focused on possible synergies between cybersecurity, CBRN risk mitigation and broader critical infrastructure resilience. As threats to essential services become increasingly interconnected, cross-sector cooperation is essential to support more coordinated, practical, and future-oriented capacity building.
WB3C team Gilles Schwoerer and Maja Miranovic stressed that sectoral approach in building resilience for critical infrastructure is central in our 3-year EU funded programme and expressed readiness to explore areas where our respective expertise and regional engagement can contribute to stronger resilience and security.

Police officers complete demanding 15-month journey from investigator to digital forensics graduate

When fourteen police investigators recently graduated from WB3C's Digital Forensics programme delivered in partnership with the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT), the public saw the final result: internationally recognised diplomas, successful thesis defences and a new generation of specialised cybercrime investigators.

Less visible was the work that took place behind the scenes to get there.

For fifteen months, participants balanced full-time operational duties with a university-level programme requiring approximately 1,400 hours of study. While continuing to investigate cybercrime cases and fulfil their professional responsibilities, they attended classes, completed practical assignments, conducted research and prepared professional theses.

As the programme entered its final stage, WB3C and UTT intensified their support to help participants navigate one of the most demanding parts of the academic journey: the preparation and defence of their final papers.

Participants received detailed guidance on thesis writing, academic standards and defence procedures applied by UTT. Following the submission of their papers, mentors conducted individual reviews and provided detailed feedback, recommendations and improvement points. Students then worked through revisions and refinements before receiving final confirmation that their work met the required academic standards.

Throughout this process, mentors remained available for consultations, questions and individual support, ensuring that participants could successfully bridge the gap between operational expertise and academic requirements.

The final result was more than a successful examination. It demonstrated the determination of investigators who committed to a demanding programme while remaining on active duty, and the value of sustained mentorship and international cooperation in building specialised cybercrime capabilities.

The graduation of all fourteen participants stands as a testament not only to their professional competence, but also to the perseverance required to complete a rigorous university programme alongside the realities of modern law enforcement work.

Advancing Cyber Resilience of Critical Entities through ISO 27001 Training

This week, at Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) we are running a three-day training on ISO/IEC 27001:2022, delivered in cooperation with our partner Čikom and led by its CISO and SOC Manager Mladen Bukilic.

As countries across the region advance their alignment with European cybersecurity requirements, organisations responsible for public services and critical functions face growing expectations to manage risks in a systematic and measurable way.
The training introduces participants to the principles of Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), covering topics such as risk assessment, security governance, incident management, internal audits and continual improvement. Through practical exercises and case studies, participants develop the tools needed to translate security requirements into organisational practice.
More than a compliance exercise, ISO 27001 provides a framework for protecting information assets, strengthening organisational resilience and building trust in an increasingly interconnected environment.
The activity is delivered within the regional project "Improving the Resilience of Critical Entities and the Protection of Public Spaces and Cyberspace against Security Threats in the Western Balkans", funded by the European Union.