13th TeleGroup Infosec Conference – Dialogue on the Latest Cyber Challenges and Solutions

The 13th TeleGroup Infosec Conference was held on October 5, 2023, at the Vučko Hotel on Jahorina and once again served as a hub for dialogue on the latest cyber challenges and solutions for nearly 200 experts from various industries.

The conference was officially opened by Zlatan Klokić, Minister for European Integration and International Cooperation of the Republic of Srpska, who emphasized the importance of the rapid development of the IT sector and the need for equally swift advancements in information security. Klokić highlighted that cybersecurity experts are key to identifying the next steps in development to elevate security to a higher level. For this reason, the Ministry is working on aligning with all EU directives regarding user data protection in the upcoming period.

"The development of the Republic of Srpska's Sustainable Development Strategy for the period 2024–2030 is well underway. We will dedicate special attention to digitalization and preparing for the future with artificial intelligence, considering security, information protection, and critical infrastructure protection. Given all this, the conference couldn't have been held at a better time," said Klokić.

Edin Rizvanbegović from Check Point, as the keynote speaker, delivered an inspiring lecture on the dynamics of trends in cybersecurity, focusing on the challenges brought by digital transformation and recommendations on how organizations can address them.

During the technology workshops, participants were introduced to and shown demonstrations of technologies, tools, and solutions, emphasizing innovations and best practices for protecting information systems. Emir Mehanović (Exclusive Networks) demonstrated how to train employees to recognize attacks and protect themselves. Dragan Ilić (VMware) showcased the VMware NSX platform for advanced threat protection, while Primož Bedrač (TeleGroup) discussed artificial intelligence and machine learning for threat detection and vulnerabilities, as well as tracking data and users to identify attacks.

Representatives of other partner companies presented their current solutions and how they impact the development of cybersecurity in the Balkans. Ran Levy from Cognyte explained how AI technologies are used to enhance dark web intelligence. Edin Muharemović (Exclusive Networks) highlighted the benefits of Trend Micro’s “pay as you grow” model. Adnan Švraka (Fortinet) introduced SD-WAN technology, while Ivan Štrbac (Check Point) presented Horizon – the first package of solutions and services for security operations focused on prevention.

On the significance of including women in the industry, Lejla Tulić Ivojević from Woman4Cyber BiH and Diana Gligorijević, one of TeleGroup's founders, left a strong impression during their Fireside Chat by highlighting their professional achievements and the importance of fostering equality and gender inclusion in traditionally male-dominated sectors. They agreed that creating a more inclusive technological ecosystem encourages innovation and embraces diversity.

"The impact of regulatory frameworks on business digitalization in the Western Balkans" was the topic of this year’s panel discussion, where Sanja Kekić (Woman4Cyber Serbia), Jovo Marković (Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Srpska), and Ivan Mladenović (Check Point Software) discussed the importance of collaboration between the cybersecurity sector and businesses to ensure a strong defense against growing threats.