Event Recaps

CRDF Global Hosts Strategic Session on Cybersecurity Challenges for the Western Balkans

Todd presenting at conference

From December 9 to 13, 2024, CRDF Global, with the support of the U.S. Department of State, hosted a Strategic Session on Cybersecurity Challenges for the Western Balkan Countries in Vienna, Austria.

The event brought together 32 representatives of independent media from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Over five days, participants engaged in intensive discussions to address pressing cybersecurity challenges in the region.

The event featured expert speakers: Vitalii Yakushev, CEO of 10Guards, and Oleksandr Smychnikov, Director of Business Consulting at 10Guards, who provided invaluable insights and shared critical insights on addressing modern cybersecurity threats. At the same time, BIRN BiH (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network – Bosnia and Herzegovina) played a vital role in ensuring the session’s relevance and impact, including identifying and inviting participants. As well as providing key inputs for agenda development, incorporating perspectives grounded in the local context of the Western Balkans, supporting facilitators by offering consultations on regional specifics, and contributing to shaping actionable outcomes.

The session’s primary objectives included:
✔️ Identifying key players in the regional cybersecurity ecosystem;
✔️ Understanding the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the media industry;
✔️ Bridging communication gaps between the media sector and donor organizations to foster more effective collaboration.

A key outcome of the session was the development of an action plan that will serve as a roadmap for strengthening cybersecurity measures and fostering resilience across the region’s media landscape.

💬 This session highlighted the critical need for collaborative action to tackle the growing cybersecurity threats in the Western Balkans. By uniting media representatives and international stakeholders, we’ve taken a significant step toward building a safer digital environment for independent journalism.

CRDF Global expresses its gratitude to the U.S. Department of State for supporting this initiative and underscores its commitment to advancing cybersecurity and resilience in the region.