IPKO organised the 3rd Cybersecurity Conference, the largest and most comprehensive edition to date, bringing together over 450 participants from businesses, government institutions, the financial sector, academia, and international organisations. The conference was held as a strategic platform to address current cybersecurity challenges and to share concrete experience in protecting digital infrastructure in an increasingly complex technological environment.

The conference programme included strategic presentations, structured panel discussions, real-life case studies, and a Cybersecurity Expo, offering a comprehensive approach from the technical, operational, and financial perspectives of digital security. 

The presentations focused on staying one step ahead of cyber threats, turning security intelligence into concrete action, and building sustainable capacities to protect critical systems.

Particular attention was paid to cyber threat management, increasing risk visibility in modern networks, and advanced approaches to protecting cellular and IoT networks, including continuous monitoring, regulatory compliance (compliance), and incident response. These topics were addressed through technical presentations and practical examples by international technology partners.

One of the central points of the conference was the panel discussion “Financial impact – Cybersecurity: Investment or an unavoidable expense?”, which analysed the role of cybersecurity as a strategic priority for organisations and institutions. 

The discussion was further enriched by the contribution of international cybersecurity experts, who brought practical perspectives and concrete experience from the global industry.

Marko Ostanek, a professional with over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and currently SE Manager for the Adriatic region at Check Point, shared advanced practices on Zero Trust architecture, data centre protection, and the security of hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Likewise, Noam Segev, Chief Revenue Officer at Shield-IoT / Mastercard, emphasised the importance of cellular IoT network security and threat management for SIM-connected devices, focusing on regulatory compliance and the secure scaling of digital services.

Meanwhile, Metod Platiše, Product Manager at Telekom Slovenije’s Cybersecurity Centre, presented concrete experiences in electronic identification, digital transaction security, and building secure communication infrastructures.

The panel brought together decision-makers and experts from key sectors, including:

• András Pali, Executive Director of IPKO, 
• Ejup Maqedonci, Acting Minister of Defence of the Republic of Kosovo,
• Blerim Rexha, professor at the University of Prishtina (FIEK) and cybersecurity expert, 
• Elvin Mala, Head of the Division for the Supervision of IT Systems and Cybersecurity at the Central Bank of Kosovo, as well as 
• Vlad Gurmans, Vice President at Whalebone. 

The panel was moderated by Valon Canhasi, enabling a balanced and in-depth discussion on the economic, institutional, and strategic impact of investments in digital security.

The conference was further enriched by the contribution of leading international companies and partners in the field of cybersecurity, including Telekom Slovenije, Check Point, Whalebone, and Shield-IoT / Mastercard, which presented innovative solutions and advanced practices for protection against modern threats. In parallel, the expo and networking sessions created concrete spaces for experience exchange, partnership building, and professional cooperation.

With this edition, IPKO further strengthened its position as a trusted authority in the field of digital security, contributing to increased awareness, trust, and capacities in the face of cyber risks, while also positioning cybersecurity as a key pillar of Kosovo’s digital and economic development.