CIRT representatives at "Enhancing Cybersecurity in the Balkan region" workshop in Podgorica

On October 18 and 19, 2024, a two-day workshop "Multi-Sector Cybersecurity TTX: Enhancing Cybersecurity in the Balkan region" was held in Podgorica. It was organized by CRDF Global with the support of the US Department of State.

This event brought together key stakeholders from government, critical infrastructure, the private sector, and academia to find common solutions to cybersecurity challenges.

The first day of the workshop focused on developing strategies to defend against specific tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by APT groups. Participants engaged in practical exercises and analyses to implement a proactive approach to defense and examine successful defense strategies.

On the second day of the workshop, Liesyl Franz, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Cyberspace Security, delivered the opening speech. She emphasized the strong support that the United States provides to Montenegro in enhancing its cybersecurity capacity. Additionally, she expressed satisfaction with the organization of the training, noting that it will enable representatives from state institutions and the private sector to gain new knowledge through American support.

On the second day, the focus was on planning and implementing strategies for incident response. Participants explored how leaders' perspectives can be transformed into concrete incident management strategies while also enhancing existing threat response plans through group discussions. The practical component of the workshop utilized the "Hack The Box" platform, which allowed for the simulation of real cyber threats and the development of essential skills for effective defense.

The involvement of representatives from the Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) and other key stakeholders further strengthened regional cooperation and knowledge sharing, aiming to create a more resilient digital environment in the Balkans. This event marked another significant step toward bolstering cybersecurity and improving coordination across various sectors.