TIRANA, Oct 9 /ATA/- By Maela Marini/ Prime Minister Edi Rama emphasized on Thursday the importance of raising awareness within the private sector about investing in cyber defense.
Rama addressed the 3rd NATO Cyber Defense Conference, held in Tirana, which brought together delegations from 32 member states of the Alliance, represented by their foreign ministries, defense ministries, and cyber ambassadors.
Prime Minister Rama emphasized the need to do much more to involve the private sector and raise their awareness that cyberattacks are real threats, capable of causing significant damage.
“I can share how things unfolded with the financial sector, particularly the banks. After we survived a targeted attack from a country that systematically targets us, and having now strengthened our defenses, we warned the banks that major actors—not just small ones—pose a threat. We urged them to get involved, invest, and cooperate with us. We offered our expertise and support, but initially, they didn’t take it seriously. It wasn’t until one of them experienced an attack firsthand that they truly understood the severity of the threat,” Rama explained.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister emphasized that “we can now say with some relief that when it comes to the banking sector, the level of defense system is high—just as it is in the energy sector.”
He expressed his belief that much more still needs to be done and that all countries face this challenge of involving and engaging the private sector at the pace demanded by the times we live in. /j.p/sm/
