Events

We are pleased to announce the upcoming New Technologies and Cybersecurity Workshop, taking place from 5–8 November 2024 at WB3C. This event is part of our ongoing collaboration with our Slovenian partners, including the Government Information Security Office (URSIV) and the Centre for European Perspective (CEP). 

The workshop will cover cutting-edge topics such as quantum technologies, post-quantum cryptography, artificial intelligence applications in cybersecurity, and the latest in cyber threat intelligence. By joining forces with experts from across the region and Europe, we aim to continue strengthening our collective cyber defenses and promote the importance of international cooperation.

Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to follow us for highlights from the event!

Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) is participating at the First Networking & Technical Workshop on Cybersecurity, organized by UNDP, the Albanian Cybersecurity Authority, and partners from Slovakia 🇸🇰 and Czech Development Agency - CzechAid 🇨🇿. Representing WB3C, our Programme Director, Yannick Casse, contributed to a panel discussion on our role in strengthening cyber resilience across the Western Balkans.
The event, which brings together cybersecurity agencies from the Western Balkans, Georgia and Moldova, emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation to confront evolving digital threats. Mr Casse highlighted WB3C’s initiatives, from capacity-building to policy alignment, all aimed at fostering a secure digital environment in line with EU standards.

Key discussions included:
👉 Cybersecurity Policy & Strategy: Setting up a Cybersecurity Cooperation Network (CCN) for enhanced regional intelligence-sharing and coordinated responses. 
👉 Human Element in Cybersecurity: Addressing vital training needs to reduce risks stemming from human error. 
👉 EU Cyber Alignment: Aligning cybersecurity strategies with EU regulations—a crucial milestone for the region’s digital security ambitions.

We look forward to continued collaboration with our regional partners in building a resilient and secure cyber space!

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) conducted a specialized training program on Cryptocurrencies Investigations from October 28th to 31st, 2024, at its premises in Podgorica. This course was tailored for investigators,  across Western Balkans, including those working in general crime, serious and organized crime, cybercrime, high tech crime and financial investigations, who need to enhance their expertise in the field of crypto-related investigations.

This four-day training will encompass theoretical and practical modules focusing on blockchain technology, Bitcoin and Ethereum networks, wallet management and on-chain analysis. Participants will acquire essential skills to identify and investigate illicit activities involving cryptocurrencies, including understanding blockchain principles, cryptography, transaction tracking and reporting.

On October 24th, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) welcomed General Rudolf Striedinger, Chief of Defence Staff of Austria, as part of his official visit to Montenegro. Hosted by Brigadier General Zoran Lazarević of the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro, and facilitated by the Management of the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, the visit offered a platform for discussing WB3C’s ongoing projects and exploring pathways for future cooperation.

Representing WB3C, Guillaume Narjollet from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in Paris and Lieutenant Yannick Casse, Acting Director of WB3C, introduced the Centre’s objectives and regional activities aimed at strengthening cyber resilience. Lieutenant Casse provided insights into WB3C’s training programs, collaborative initiatives, and its role in advancing cybersecurity capacities across the Western Balkans. The WB3C delegation also included representatives of the Slovenian Embassy in Podgorica, Borut Valenčić, Minister Counsellor and Ivan Turnšek, Defence Attaché .

The Austrian and Montenegrin military delegations also toured WB3C’s facilities, which provided for an exchange of perspectives on the region’s evolving cyber capabilities.  This engagement reflects WB3C’s commitment to building strategic partnerships that enhance cybersecurity capabilities in the region.

This week, from 22 to 25 October, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) is concluding the final phase of its comprehensive cybercrime training programme, focusing on investigators and prosecutors from North Macedonia. This marks the completion of the broader year-long programme aimed at strengthening the cybercrime response capabilities of law enforcement across the Western Balkans.

The training, which utilizes the "serious games" methodology, involves practical exercises designed to simulate real-world cybercrime scenarios, with particular attention to open-source intelligence (OSINT) and cryptocurrency-related investigations. By applying these methods, participants apply and enhance their skills in tracking and tracing criminal activity.

This programme represents a significant step forward in improving the operational capabilities of law enforcement agencies in tackling cybercrime. Equally important is the focus on fostering greater collaboration and coordination between different agencies at the regional and international level, reinforcing a united approach to addressing the growing cyber threats in the Western Balkans.

At the conclusion of the training, participants will receive certificates of attendance, officially completing this critical phase of WB3C’s capacity-building initiative.

Strengthening Cybercrime Capabilities: Regional Training for Prosecutors and Investigators from Albania

This week, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) hosted a three-day training session for prosecutors from Albania as part of its ongoing programme to enhance cybercrime response across the region. The training focused on practical exercises, including simulations that replicated real-world scenarios, with an emphasis on open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques and cryptocurrency investigations.

Prosecutors and investigators worked together on case studies designed to improve their ability to tackle cybercrime efficiently. At the conclusion of the training, participants received certificates of attendance, marking their completion of this phase of the program.

WB3C remains committed to supporting regional efforts to build stronger, coordinated responses to cyber threats by providing practical training and facilitating collaboration among professionals from different branches of law enforcement.

This week at the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), we concluded another important phase of our ongoing efforts to enhance cybercrime capabilities in the region. Prosecutors from North Macedonia, together with police investigators from Kosovo*, participated in a practical tabletop exercise following a week of theoretical training. This collaborative training, held from 8-10 October, was led by WB3C experts and regional specialists, reflecting our commitment to promoting regional cooperation on matters of cybercrime.

The training included “serious games” simulations replicating real-world scenarios used for training cybercrime professionals in solving complex problems, focusing on OSINT techniques in cryptocurrency investigations. These practical skills are essential to ensuring a swift and effective response to cyber incidents.

By engaging local and regional experts, WB3C reinforces the importance of cooperation not only within the Western Balkans but also with our international and EU partners. Strengthening coordination between prosecutors and investigators in this training is a key step toward creating a unified and resilient approach to combatting cybercrime in the region.

« * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence. »

Empowering women for CyberTech is one of the strategic objectives of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C). By joining forces with our partners Urad Vlade Republike Slovenije za informacijsko varnost, CEP - Centre for European Perspective, Women4Cyber Slovenia and Women4Cyber Montenegro we worked with women from different industries and administrations across the region on understanding the political, economic, societal and technical context in which cyber threats occur and empowering them to champion, lead and develop new talent for the cyber industry. 

Over the two days, from 29 September to 1 October, 18 women cyber experts from the public and private sectors from the Western Balkans, gathered at WB3C for a workshop to learn, share knowledge and discuss gender based crimes that occur in the digital space and how to stay safe. We covered a number of topics, from understanding the context which gives rise to cybercrime, to raising awareness, developing and empowering new talent for cyber tech and leveraging the existing expertise and leadership we have among women in the region, to champion women's greater participation and leadership in this industry.  

By working in partnership with leading organizations specializing in women4cyber, we reinforce the importance of regional and international cooperation in tackiling cybercrime and building our collective response to growing cyber threats in the Western Balkans region and globally.

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre is hosting a two-day technical training programme on 19-20 September, delivered by our partners e-Governance Academy focused on equipping CSIRT/SOC staff with the skills to effectively manage threat intelligence information. The training features esteemed instructors from CERT-EE / Information System Authority of Estonia: Tonu Tammer, the previous Director of CERT-EE, and Heiki Pikker, Senior Information Security Expert.

In our interconnected world, the security landscape is constantly evolving, presenting new challenges for organizations. To protect our operations and assets, we need to proactively identify and mitigate threats before they become problematic. This training programme teaches how to gather, analyze, and address these threats efficiently.

Key topics include:

Managing intelligence workflows

Recognizing malware signatures

Utilizing open-source intelligence (OSINT)

Evaluating intelligence credibility

Optimizing MISP (Malware Information Sharing Platform) usage

Establishing effective information management practices

By the end of the training, participants will gain valuable insights into various threat intelligence tools and automation possibilities, as well as techniques for sharing information with domestic and international allies. This knowledge will enhance regional cooperation in intelligence sharing and help establish standard procedures for collective security strategies.