Events

Today we start a short CyberHygiene training for colleagues at Montenegro’s Ministry of European Affairs. The training is led by WB3C-s in-house trainers Cyril C. and Yannick Casse.
Over the two days, we will work through the threats civil servants face most often — phishing, malware/ransomware and social engineering — and the practical habits that reduce risk without needing to advance technical skills such as: safer daily practices, data confidentiality and clear incident response basics.
A reminder worth repeating: cyber hygiene is organizational hygiene. Firewalls and policies help, but day-to-day resilience is built in small decisions made across the institution. Every civil servant counts.
A simple checklist that pays off:
⚠️ Pause before you click (especially “urgent” emails)
⚠️ Use strong passwords/passphrases + multi-factor authentication where available
⚠️ Keep devices and apps updated
⚠️ Report suspicious activity early—speed matters

Director Gilles Schwoerer greeted the participants by emphasizing that cybersecurity culture doesn’t start in the IT department, but it starts in each inbox. We are very pleased to welcome the behind-the-scenes force driving Montenegro's successful advancement towards the EU accession and to share that WB3C is expecting its first multi-year EU grant in March this year, aimed at supporting the region in meeting the requirements from the cyber agenda and strengthening its overall resilience, especially its critical infrastructure. We look forward to joining forces with ministries around the region in 2026 - a year expected to bring a dynamic plan of activities.

We were pleased to welcome the International Telecommunication Union to WB3C again this week to continue our discussions on working together for the benefit of the region—particularly on cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. Our partnership, launched in 2024, is set to deepen as protecting critical infrastructure becomes an increasingly high priority across the Western Balkans, closely linked to the EU accession path and the need to strengthen resilience against a growing threat landscape. We met with Jaroslaw K. PONDER, Head of ITU Office for Europe and Valentina Stadnic, Programme Officer at the ITU Office for Europe, joined by Director Gilles Schwoerer and Project Assistant Vanja Radović on the WB3C side.

After the extended Christmas and New Year holidays, WB3C is back in track, using this quieter month to finalize our end-of-year reports, complete our dynamic 2026 work plan and upgrade our IT system ahead of the exciting activities we have coming up.
A big part of this “behind-the-scenes” work is strengthening our training environment. 
A sneak peak into this summer: we’re preparing to host the first Forum InCyber Balkans (FIC Balkans) during which we will organize a Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge. FIC Balkans is a new event we are launching with Forum INCYBER (FIC) France, the Association of Security Managers of Montenegro and the Naučno-tehnološki park Crne Gore / Science Technology Park of Montenegro, bringing cyber businesses and institutions together for a cyber fair—and creating space for practical engagement, learning, and a bit of fun for our beneficiary countries.

In the photo, our team with colleague Samy SCANNA, member of the Gendarmerie Nationale reserve, who came to help with setting up the system.

Stay tuned for updates as we have a full year of news and activities ahead.

Bartosz Marcinkowski, Chargé d’affaires a.i. at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Podgorica, paid his first courtesy visit to the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) yesterday.
The visit was an opportunity to learn more about WB3C’s mission and ongoing work, and to explore potential areas for future cooperation. Mr. Marcinkowski met with Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C and the management team, and was given a tour of the Centre’s premises.
We appreciate the Embassy’s interest and look forward to continuing the dialogue on shared priorities in building cyber capacity and resilience of the region.

On 14 January 2026, the Western Balkan Cyber Camp community reconvened online, to maintain the momentum of regional networking and learning that took place last May in Durres, Albania, bringing together 60 young people from the region who aspire to become cyber professionals.  Opening the session, Prof. Asoc. Dr. Igli Tafa, former General Director of AKSK and newly appointed director of AKSHI, underscored the strategic importance of maintaining an active alumni community beyond individual events.  His opening remarks were followed by a panel discussion, “The Alumni Network as a Force for Regional Cyber Resilience,” exploring how informal professional ties can complement institutional cooperation. The group heard insights from Ms. Brunilda Halili, National Community Safety Officer, OSCE Presence in Albania and Prof. Blerim Rexha, University of Prishtina, who highlighted the value of cross-border knowledge exchange, early-career mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving in a region facing shared cyber threats.  The discussion emphasized that resilience is not built solely through policy frameworks, but through trusted communities of practitioners.

AI and Cybersecurity: Friend or Foe?

A lightning talk by Ms. Piret Hirv, Head of the Data Management Competence Centre at e-Governance Academy, examined the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The session addressed:

• AI as a force multiplier in detection and response
• The risks of AI-enabled manipulation and automated cybercrime
• The growing need for technical literacy and ethical awareness

The discussion placed emerging technologies within a practical, career-oriented context for young professionals.

Cyber Careers in 2025 – Positioning for Impact

In a forward-looking mini-workshop, Mr. Eno Ngjela (UNDP) provided guidance on navigating the cybersecurity landscape in 2026 by looking at the job market in the previous year. 

Participants explored:

• Specialisation pathways within cybersecurity
• Aligning skills with international and EU standards
• Building credible professional profiles
• Leveraging regional networks for opportunity and mobility

The workshop reinforced the importance of proactive career planning in a rapidly evolving field.

Next Steps: From Online Exchange to In-Person Engagement

The session concluded with an introduction to the upcoming 2026 in-person Alumni Event, presented by Mr. Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C 

The online edition demonstrated that the Western Balkan Cyber Camp is evolving into a durable regional platform. By sustaining dialogue between alumni and partners, the initiative strengthens both professional pathways and collective cyber resilience across the Western Balkans.

Further engagement opportunities and updates on the 2026 gathering will follow.

Today, our team Gilles Schwoerer and Maja Miranovic visited the Administration for Maritime Safety and Port Management in Bar, Montenegro, to explore potential cooperation on cybersecurity training, with a particular focus on strengthening the capabilities of their SOC team.

The discussion highlighted the value of a sectoral approach to protecting critical infrastructure, especially in sectors linked to Montenegro’s broader maritime and coastal economy. In the context of NIS2 implementation and the growing need for critical entities to align with international ISO standards, we reviewed priority needs and practical options for tailored capacity-building.

We were welcomed by Nexhat Kapidani, Deputy Director who introduced the team to the Administration’s facilities and operational context. The visit reinforced the potential for the maritime domain to be among the first sectors considered under WB3C’s future sector-focused work on cyber resilience.

At a reception hosted by the Association of Security Managers of Montenegro on 15 December 2025, Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) was honored with an appreciation plaque presented by the Association’s President, Dragan Radulović, in recognition of our strong and effective cooperation in 2025. 

Sincere thanks to Dragan and to the Association for this meaningful acknowledgment. 

The reception was attended by our colleagues Gilles Schwoerer and Maja Miranovic, who have already begun working with the Association on the next major event we are developing together. While it is still early to share details, we are focused on building on this momentum and further strengthening our partnership through a major joint cyber initiative currently in preparation. 

The Association of Security Managers of Montenegro is a significant professional platform that brings together security professionals from both the public and private sectors across Montenegro (over 120 members) and contributes to strengthening professional standards, security culture and cooperation with institutions and industry. 

We look forward to continuing our close cooperation and joining forces in advancing security standards and resilience in Montenegro and the wider region.

Our second Prep Course cohort (December) led by Ljuban Petrovic just finished two intense weeks of learning, practice and assessment. These ICT students showed up with curiosity and ambition to build their future career in cybersecurity field.

Now, the bigger picture:

We’ve completed two Prep Course cohorts (November + December), with 18 students in total from the Western Balkans. They have already taken the final test, and the final selection will be made in January for the free Cybersecurity University Diploma starting in February 2026, delivered by WB3C in cooperation with the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT).

What makes this course unique is that it’s not “just another training.” It’s a real academic pathway that helps students build lasting qualifications and it sits alongside our year round short courses as part of a wider talent strategy.

What this diploma prepares students for (entry roles):
🛡️ Security Administrator
🧠 SOC Analyst (Junior)
🧪 Junior Penetration Tester
🔍 Digital Forensics Technician
✅ Cybersecurity Auditor (Junior)

What happens next:

📝 January: final selection
🎓 February 2026: one-year long diploma course starts

Our cooperation with universities is an investment in long-term cybersecurity workforce development and we have more plans for the future how to make these courses available to more people in the region.

Today, December 12th, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) had the pleasure to host a training on Governing Commercial Cyber Intrusion Capabilities (CCICs). 
Organized by the Ministère des Affaires étrangères français and implemented by Expertise France in the framework of a European Commission subvention under the Multi-Partner Contribution Agreement (MPCA) on Cyber and Artificial Intelligence, this training gathered diverse actors involved in the cybersecurity landscape of the Western Balkans region such as diplomats, magistrates and law enforcement officers to discuss the growing challenge posed by the proliferation and irresponsible use of CCICs. 

Throughout the day, participants deep dived into the characteristics of the CCICs market and exchanged the need for strong governance frameworks:
1)     Assessing the threat and current trends in the global cyber intrusion market.
2)     Decoding the Pall Mall Process: ensuring government responsible use of commercial cyber intrusion capabilities.
3)     National CCIC governance frameworks: sharing of national experiences and identifying challenges and guidance.

Complementary to the other WB3C trainings, this workshop has contributed to advancing responsible governance of CCICs and strengthening accountability in the cyber domain. We thank the speakers Mahé Dersoir (Ministère des Affaires étrangères français), Robert Pellow (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), James Shires and Lena Riecke for their precious contributions and expertise in the subject. 
Moreover, we thank all participants for their active engagement and constructive exchanges, which are essential to continuously improve our collective understanding and oversight of CCICs. 
We are grateful to our local partners Davide Meinero, PhD of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Melanie Moffat of the British Embassy, Bertrand Baucher of the French Embassy and Gilles Schwoerer, Head of WB3C for supporting this initiative.