The Regional Cybersecurity Symposium held in Chișinău on November 14 and 15 represented a significant milestone for Moldova, highlighting the importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly digitally interconnected world. The event provided a unique platform for experts in the field to share perspectives and discuss international cybersecurity defense strategies, recommendations, successful experiences, and potential for new collaborations.
Over 300 participants interested in cybersecurity took part in the symposium, reflecting significant interest from future experts, security professionals, and representatives from national security, defense, and IT departments. Sectors such as energy, telecommunications, finance, and transportation were represented, with all participants aiming to discuss and strengthen collaborative efforts to enhance cybersecurity resilience in the region.
The event benefited from the participation of over 35 experts from 14 countries, including Estonia, where 99% of public services are digitized, Poland, known for its own cyber army, and other countries such as Romania, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Sweden, the USA, and the Council of Europe. These experts brought with them a rich international perspective, sharing knowledge and expertise in the field of cybersecurity.
Internationally renowned companies from Romania, Estonia, the USA, and Poland, such as CRDF Global, MITRE Corporation, ISACA, Deloitte, Orange, and Adobe, contributed to the event by sharing their experiences and real-life scenarios of cyber crises, as well as effective response strategies implemented globally. The six panel discussions held on the first day addressed topics of utmost importance in the field of cybersecurity, including regional collaboration in cybersecurity, response strategies in cyber crisis situations, strengthening cybersecurity resilience in accordance with the EU regulatory framework, emerging trends, and workforce development in cybersecurity.
The second day of the symposium was dedicated to conducting four workshops led by representatives from world-renowned institutions in cybersecurity. Among them was the SANS Institute, which provided participants with insights into the field of cyber defense, highlighting the latest tools used by specialists to detect and counter cyber attacks. Representatives from the Royal Dutch Army, the Cyber Command of Poland, and the Dutch Defense and Cyber Security Center led workshops on topics such as the fundamentals of cyber and electromagnetic activities, cyber threat hunting, and cyber incident triage.
An important moment of the symposium was the announcement of key projects for Moldova, including the development of a new institution – the Cybersecurity Agency. This agency would be responsible for implementing cybersecurity policies for service providers, thereby strengthening the country’s commitment to national and regional digital security.
The symposium represented a significant step towards consolidating cybersecurity, marking an important moment for Moldova and the surrounding region. Through international collaborations, strategies, tools, and best practices discussed and shared, the event contributed to ensuring a safer cyberspace. Partnerships with important organizations such as the Council of Europe, the European Union, Cybersecurity EAST, GFA Consulting Group, ACTION Global Communication, EU – Moldova: Stronger Together, the e-Government Agency, and the US Department of State emphasized international support and essential cooperation in this field.
The digital partner of the event, Amigo, made a significant contribution by providing the necessary technological support and strengthening the digital presence of the symposium. Overall, the Regional Cybersecurity Symposium provided an essential platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge, consolidating efforts for a safer and more resilient national and regional cyberspace.
2023-11-14