Cyber Security Summit in Sarajevo: AI Attacks Advancing Faster Than Defense

(Patria) - The "Cyber Security Summit 2025" conference, organized by the e-Transformation Association, was held in Sarajevo on November 19 and 20, bringing together over 400 participants from across the region and confirming its status as the largest and most influential regional event dedicated to digital security.

Over two dynamic days, participants discussed the resilience of the digital economy, cyber risk management, the role of artificial intelligence in modern attacks and defense, the future of EU regulation and its impact on Western Balkan countries, and the development of human capital in the field of cybersecurity.

In their opening remarks, representatives of international institutions emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening cyber resilience.

Semir Dedić from the e-Transformation Association stated that the Summit once again showed that cyber threats do not stop at borders and that a joint response is the only sustainable strategy.

An important message from all discussions is that AI attacks are advancing faster than defense. The region must recognize what institutions need to do to keep pace with the world.

"Digital security is a matter of trust, partnership, and readiness to act before threats become reality," said Dedić.

The Ambassador of the United Kingdom (UK) to BiH, Julian Reilly, said that the UK strongly supports Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts to develop its cyber capabilities, as a stable and secure digital space is the foundation of modern society and economy.

The Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Jana K. Lolić Šindelková, highlighted that cyber threats know no borders, which is why cooperation between the European Union, the Czech Republic, and the countries of the region must remain a priority to jointly build a secure and sustainable digital ecosystem.

Jens Elsner, Program Director of GIZ's Program for Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion (SEDEP) in BiH, emphasized the commitment of German development cooperation, in partnership with the European Union, in the era of rapid digital transformation, especially in the field of cybersecurity.

He stressed that education and continuous learning are key to keeping pace with these changes. Through our programs, we strengthen the capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises, public institutions, schools, and business support organizations to successfully respond to the challenges of digital transition.

The Summit included a series of expert lectures, panels, and technical sessions dedicated to cyber risks, resilience strategies, the application of AI technologies, cloud security, modern SOC operations, data protection, the future of (I)IoT systems, and specialized topics such as advanced attacker deception methods, AI-vs-AI tactics, security product development, and practical advice for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Concurrently, the OSCE Annual Cybersecurity Forum, Safe Zone program workshops for NGOs and media, a roundtable on human capital development in cybersecurity, and programs for women in the cyber sector were held, including workshops for women entrepreneurs and a session titled "Women in Cybersecurity: Leadership and Resilience in Times of Crisis".

The "Cyber Security Summit 2025" once again confirmed that security challenges are rapidly changing, that AI technologies open new opportunities but also new risks, and that knowledge, cooperation, and joint strategies are key to building a stable and secure digital environment throughout the region.

Summit participants also adopted a set of key conclusions and recommendations for the further development of cybersecurity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The conclusions of the "Cyber Security Summit 2025" are:
• Build better and higher quality bridges between the cyber community in BiH and our top experts working around the world. The potential exists - it just needs to be connected;
• Continue activities aimed at raising awareness and knowledge of small and medium-sized enterprises, especially business leaders, in the field of cybersecurity through campaigns, systematic training, and adequate certification;
• Continue strengthening cooperation between the private sector, institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the non-governmental sector, and international organizations in the field of cybersecurity;
• Fully support existing and future activities of educational institutions in establishing specialized Cyber Security programs;
• BiH already has outstanding experts, both within the country and in the diaspora. Their systematic networking and a defined, concrete action plan that moves from theory to implementation are needed;
• Enable specialization of existing IT experts in the field of cybersecurity through the establishment of informal educational programs;
• Continue strengthening the cybersecurity community gathered around the Cyber Security Summit;
• Continue developing, strengthening, and establishing international cooperation in the field of cybersecurity;
• Develop and implement a cybersecurity strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina as soon as possible;
• Actively begin working on developing regulations that would govern the use of digital technologies and cybersecurity;
• Form the missing CERTs and provide adequate support for the further development of existing CERTs, and ensure that CERTs in Bosnia and Herzegovina are appropriately networked and connected with CERTs in the region and globally;
• Provide a special status for cybersecurity experts employed in institutions in terms of salaries and benefits to retain existing and hire new necessary personnel;
• A bottom-up approach is proving to be the most effective - and perhaps the only - path to real progress in strengthening online security in BiH. Solutions come from the community, and institutions should support them.