The ICCSW is led by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and brings together governments and organizations working to build and sustain a skilled and resilient cybersecurity workforce.

The coalition’s work focuses on developing a common terminology for professional skills, sharing best practices, defining minimum quality standards for cybersecurity professionals, and enhancing interoperability among national cybersecurity workforce frameworks.

Albania’s membership in the ICCSW supports the Albanian Government’s vision of positioning the country as a regional hub of knowledge and expertise in cybersecurity. Through this cooperation, Albania will contribute to the development of shared international approaches and standards, exchange expertise with member states, and strengthen the preparedness and professional development of Albanian cybersecurity specialists.

In his remarks, NCSA Director General Bledar Kazia commended the cooperation with Critical and Important Information Infrastructures and their role in enhancing the country’s cybersecurity posture. He emphasized that, in the face of an ever-evolving threat landscape, incident reporting, continuous communication, and coordinated response remain key elements in protecting critical infrastructures.

The meeting also addressed the Authority’s priorities for the upcoming period, including strengthening monitoring capabilities, establishing sectoral CSIRTs, and providing continuous support to critical and important infrastructures through audits, security testing, and capacity-building training activities.

The meeting served as a platform for dialogue to address shared challenges and further strengthen cooperation towards a safer and more resilient digital environment.

NCSA extends its appreciation to DCAF for its continued support and partnership in strengthening national cybersecurity capacities.

In this context, AKSK signed a cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Information Technology at Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës (UAMD), with the aim of establishing a sustainable partnership in education, training, scientific research, and the professional development of students.

This partnership creates opportunities for the implementation of practical activities, training programmes, and joint initiatives focused on strengthening students’ knowledge, developing their professional skills, and preparing them to address the challenges of cybersecurity.

The meeting focused on the steps that can be taken to translate this cooperation into concrete actions, including the organization of meetings between AKSK experts and their Spanish counterparts, with the aim of identifying areas of mutual interest and fostering closer collaboration in cybersecurity.

The National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) has successfully concluded the selection process for the national team that will represent Albania at the European Cyber Security Challenge (ECSC) 2026, one of Europe’s most prestigious competitions for young cybersecurity talents.

ECSC is an initiative of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), supported by the European Commission and organized annually in cooperation with the host country. The competition brings together national teams composed of the most talented young people aged 14–25, who test their knowledge, technical skills, and teamwork through challenges in areas such as cryptography, web application security, reverse engineering, digital forensics, pwn, and other cybersecurity disciplines.

As the national organizer for Albania, AKSK developed and coordinated all qualification stages, at the end of which 10 finalists were selected to form Team Albania. The selection was based on the participants’ results, the coaches’ evaluations, and the combination of skills required to build a well-balanced team.

From 12 to 16 October 2026, the Albanian team will compete in Bochum, Germany, alongside national teams from across Europe, representing the talent and potential of Albanian youth in the field of cybersecurity.

For more information about the team, coaches, qualification stages, and ECSC 2026, visit: ecsc.al.

During the training, participants were introduced to the fundamental concepts of cybersecurity governance, risk management, and protective controls, as well as cybersecurity hygiene practices that help reduce exposure to cyber threats and incidents. An important part of the activity was also dedicated to assessing the cybersecurity maturity of SMEs in order to identify their needs and priorities for further support.

Through this initiative, the National Cybersecurity Authority aims to contribute to enhancing the cybersecurity capacities of SMEs by supporting them in establishing safer processes and practices for protecting their systems, data, and services.

We extend our gratitude to DCAF for its support in implementing this program and to all business representatives for their participation and commitment.

The National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) conducted the fourth and final training session within the framework of its technical training cycle dedicated to representatives of several independent institutions, focusing on Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) and the protection of endpoint devices against cyber threats.

During the training, participants were introduced to approaches and tools that enable continuous monitoring of endpoint devices, identification of suspicious activities, and response to security incidents. Through practical sessions, they explored techniques for threat detection and strengthening system protection against cyberattacks.

This training concluded the series of technical trainings organized by AKSK, which aimed to strengthen the professional capacities of institutions in monitoring, protection, and response to cyber incidents, as well as to enhance their digital resilience.

Special thanks to DCAF for the support and cooperation in the implementation of this training cycle.