From Cyber Defence to Sharing Best Practices: Warsaw’s Cyber Resilience Forum

The “Cyber Resilience in the Modern World — Lessons Learned from Ukraine” forum was held in Warsaw on January 30 & 31. This hybrid format event, a collaborative effort between the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine and the EU-funded EU4DigitalUA project, drew experts from government, EU institutions, and various sectors to share experiences and best practices in cybersecurity.

The participants focused on the lessons learned from Ukraine’s experience in countering cyber threats. Ukraine’s resistance to Russian aggression in cyberspace demonstrates how modern protective technologies are transforming the landscape of digital security. The conference also addressed issues related to developing public-private partnerships and cross-sector cooperation to strengthen cyber defence, as well as discussing international coordination mechanisms for creating a safer cyberspace.
“Ukraine was the first in the world to face challenges of such scale, where the cyber component has become a full-fledged part of the war. Ukrainian specialists had to adapt defence systems to the challenges of war in extremely short terms amidst constant changes. This gave us unique experience and we are ready to share it. Cyberspace has no borders, therefore, its security is a collective counteraction to cyber threats and the development of mechanisms for holding cybercriminals accountable,” emphasised the Head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, Yurii Myronenko.

The forum’s agenda covered critical topics, including cyber diplomacy, the protection of critical infrastructure, and the role of international cooperation in emergency response. Panel discussions and keynote speeches provided a platform for sharing experiences and innovative strategies, particularly focusing on Ukraine’s resilience and adaptive measures in the face of cyber threats.

Asier Santillán Luzuriaga, Head of Section “Good Governance and Rule of Law” at the EU Delegation to Ukraine highlighted the significance of strategic support in cybersecurity for Ukraine: “The European Union support to strengthen Ukraine’s cyber defence via its flagship programme EU4DigitalUA has been a long-lasting partnership with a comprehensive approach, from delivering telecommunications equipment to developing cyber strategies for Ukrainian cities. This conference is another outstanding example of such support and cooperative spirit.”

“The insights and strategic approaches shared during this forum are invaluable for the continual advancement of resilient cybersecurity structures worldwide,” said Maria Gaston Betran, FIIAPP Technical Institutional Coordinator of EU4DigitalUA. “The event has not only highlighted Ukraine’s remarkable cyber resilience but also underscored the importance of international collaboration in safeguarding our digital future.”

According to the Deputy Head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, Oleksandr Potii, the new security challenges faced by the modern digital world require the formation of new approaches and the development of new technical and technological tools. However, the key problem becomes the ability of institutions at various levels to implement these new approaches, as such changes require a significant number of highly qualified specialists.

“Such measures give us the opportunity not only to exchange existing experience but also to form a vision of how we, relying on the knowledge gained, will overcome issues that will arise in the future,” noted Oleksandr Potii.