The National Cyber Security Cluster conducted its third international meeting, assembling key figures from the global cyber community in the vibrant city of Bucharest, Romania. This gathering not only provided a platform for the exchange of expertise but also reaffirmed the partnership between the Ukrainian and Romanian communities in addressing cybersecurity challenges.
The meeting is organized by the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity (NCSCC), under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) in collaboration with the National Directorate for Cybersecurity of Romania and CRDF Global in Ukraine.
“The development of the intergovernmental format of the Cluster is a logical step in the context of expanding the geography of malicious actions in cyberspace. Cyber warfare today is an urgent issue not only for Ukraine. Partner countries are also experiencing cyberattacks that can have significant consequences. At the same time, it is Ukraine that is at the forefront, in particular in the field of cybersecurity, and has invaluable experience in successfully responding to cyber incidents,” said Mykhailo Verych, Regional Director, CRDF Global in Ukraine.
The focal point of discussions was the fostering of partnerships aimed at bolstering cyber stability in Southeast Europe. The wealth of experience accrued by Ukraine in cyber warfare is an asset for democratic nations, with the potential to cultivate enduring alliances and implement effective strategies for protecting state infrastructure, thereby enhancing cyber resilience across the region.
Attendees delved into different topics, including the escalating risks of cyber warfare in Southeast Europe, the synergizing state and business efforts to fortify collective security, and the strengthening cooperation with the European Union and NATO in the realm of cybersecurity.
Diverse institutions, such as the NCSCC, Security Service of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense shared insightful case studies and advancements in the cybersecurity domain.
European cases were presented by speakers from esteemed institutions like the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration of Romania (Școala Națională de Studii Politice și Administrative – SNSPA), the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization of Romania (Ministerul Cercetării, Inovării și Digitalizării – România), the Council of Europe’s Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre, the European External Action Service (EEAS), as well as industry leaders such as Bitdefender and NEXTLAB.TECH.
Drawing together over a hundred representatives from the public sector, private enterprises, international organizations, and academia, the international gathering underscored the criticality of cooperation and knowledge exchange in combatting cyber threats. It marked a significant stride in the ongoing collaboration between Ukraine and Romania in this strategically vital domain.
Background:
The National Cybersecurity Cluster is a joint coordination effort of the NCSCC at the NSDC of Ukraine and Representation of U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation in Ukraine, CRDF Global, with the support of the U.S. Department of State. The platform unites key Ukrainian and international players in the sphere of cybersecurity and related areas to address key needs of the cyber community in Ukraine.
