National Cyber and Information Security Agency

Czech Experts Deepen Cybersecurity Cooperation with Bhutan: Advanced Training Focuses on Digital Forensics

Following the success of last year’s capacity-building seminar on cybersecurity policy and legislative frameworks, Czech and Bhutanese institutions have once again joined forces to strengthen Bhutan’s cyber resilience. From 14 to 16 October 2025, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi, in cooperation with the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB), the GovTech Agency Bhutan, and the Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Thimphu, hosted a specialized seminar in Thimphu focusing on digital forensic analysis.

This year’s training responded to the needs identified during the 2024 session for a more advanced, technically oriented program. The seminar was designed to enhance the practical capabilities of Bhutanese institutions—including the GovTech Agency (BtCIRT) and the Royal Bhutan Police—in areas such as digital evidence handling, incident investigation, and cyber threat attribution.

Digital forensic analysis is a critical discipline in today’s interconnected world, where the frequency and complexity of cyberattacks continue to rise. Strengthening national capacity in this area is essential not only for investigating cybercrimes such as hacking and data breaches, but also for protecting sensitive information and ensuring public trust in digital systems.

The three-day seminar offered a hands-on, interactive learning environment, featuring practical case studies and real-world methodologies presented by experts from two leading Czech institutions—NÚKIB and the National Counterterrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime Agency (NCTEKK).

Her Excellency Eliška Žigová, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India and Bhutan, emphasized the significance of the deepening cooperation: ‘Cybersecurity is not merely a technical concern but a pillar of modern governance. By sharing Czech expertise and experience, we are investing in a secure and resilient digital future for both our nations. Czechia is proud to support Bhutan’s continued efforts in strengthening its cyber posture.’

Representing the Bhutanese side, Kuenga Zam, the Director of the GovTech Agency, highlighted the value of continuity in this partnership. She emphasized that the support is instrumental in providing the necessary skills and expertise to effectively dissect cyber attacks, understand their origin, and secure networks, thereby strengthening the preparedness of Bhutanese institutions.

Since 2014, the Czech Republic has been among the pioneers in implementing a comprehensive national cybersecurity framework, consolidating expertise under NÚKIB to address evolving threats. Building on that experience, Czechia continues to promote international collaboration and knowledge sharing as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, aligned with the CyberVac program of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Veronika Kolek Netolická, Cyber Attachée for Indo-Pacific at NÚKIB emphasizeed that the ongoing Czech–Bhutan partnership stands as a model of practical cooperation between democratic nations committed to digital security, transparency, and innovation.

  2025-10-17

Director of NÚKIB Lukáš Kintr Visited Australia to Strengthen Cooperation in Cyber Security

Canberra / Sydney, October 2025

Lukáš Kintr, Director of the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB), together with Roman Pačka, Director of the Cabinet, undertook a working visit to Australia aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation in the field of cyber security. This visit marked the first official visit of NÚKIB leadership to Australia, underscoring the growing significance of the Czech-Australian partnership in strengthening resilience and fostering collaboration on cyber and information security issues.

During its stay in Canberra, the NÚKIB delegation conducted a series of consultations with representatives of key Australian security institutions, including the Australian Cyber Security Centre, which operates under the Australian Signals Directorate.

A bilateral meeting also held with the National Cyber Security Coordinator, Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness CSC. This engagement was followed by a roundtable discussion at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, chaired by Mr. Hugh Watson, Acting Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technologies, as well as meetings with senior officials from the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Cyber Security.

The official programme in the capital concluded with a visit to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and a reception for members of the Australian cyber community, hosted at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Australia and opened by Her Excellency Ambassador Jana Tyrer.

At the conclusion of the week the delegation visited Sydney to gain insights into the operations of the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), led by the Australian Federal Police. The Centre stands as an exemplary model of inter-agency collaboration, fostering effective partnerships between law enforcement authorities and the private sector in the fight against cybercrime.

‘When the Czech Republic, through NÚKIB, appointed its first Cyber Attaché to the region in 2023, we did so with the firm conviction that in cyber security, what matters most is not geographical proximity, but shared democratic values and mutual trust between partners. These principles form the foundation of resilience against cyber threats, which know no borders. With Australia, we share not only a common understanding of threats and opportunities, but also a deep commitment to the responsible protection of a free and open digital space. The high-level reception we received today confirms that this approach was the right one,’ said Lukáš Kintr, Director of NÚKIB.

The main topics discussed during the meetings included threats to critical infrastructure posed by state-sponsored actors, the promotion of trustworthy and secure technologies, implications of the rapid development of artificial intelligence for cyber security. The discussions also addressed the protection of energy infrastructure and the security of connected vehicles – areas of growing strategic importance both in Europe and across the Indo-Pacific region.

‘This was the first visit of the NÚKIB leadership to Australia and represents a key step towards deepening our newly established partnership. It is important to demonstrate our commitment to cooperation at the highest level. I believe that this visit has made a significant contribution to advancing these ties and that, on the occasion of the NATO Cyber Champions Summit, which the Czech Republic will host in 2026, we will see strong participation from our Australian partners,’ added Veronika Kolek Netolická, NÚKIB Cyber Attachée for the Indo-Pacific region.

2025-10-15

Czech Delegation in Korea Takes Over the Baton for NATO Cyber Champions Summit 2026

The Czech Republic will host the next edition of the NATO Cyber Champions Summit in 2026. The symbolic baton was handed over this week to representatives of NÚKIB from South Korea. The Czech delegation, led by NÚKIB, actively participated in several conferences and international forums in Seoul over the past week, sharing the Czech experience in ensuring cybersecurity.

From 6–12 September 2025, South Korea became the center of international debate on cybersecurity. The Czech Republic was represented by a delegation led by the Director of the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB), Lukáš Kintr, who attended several prestigious events. Throughout the week, the international exercise APEX was also underway, with several specialists from the government CERT actively participating.

The first item on the program was the Cyber Summit Korea conference, where the Director of NÚKIB delivered a keynote speech titled From Legislation to Resilience: The Future of Cybersecurity in Czechia. In his address, he emphasized that the foundation of successful cybersecurity lies in trusted partnerships.

“Like most countries in the world, the Czech Republic cannot rely solely on its economic strength but must focus on the robustness of our alliances. Only through long-term, clear positions and integrity can we build the necessary trust with our partners. In today’s world, partnerships are defined not only by memoranda of cooperation or trade relations but above all by trust. And trust requires consistency and value-based anchoring,” he stated.

At the NATO Cyber Champions Summit, which serves as a bridge between the transatlantic and Asia-Pacific regions, the Czech delegation actively engaged in discussions on the most pressing cybersecurity threats. Cyber Attaché for the Indo-Pacific, Veronika Kolek Netolická, spoke on the panel Asia Pacific–Europe Cybersecurity Cooperation for National Networks and Critical Infrastructure Protection, highlighting the importance of utilizing existing international cooperation platforms. Director of NÚKIB, Lukáš Kintr, subsequently closed the event and officially invited participants to the next edition of this prestigious summit, which will be hosted by Prague in 2026. After Lithuania, Australia, and South Korea, this important platform for bringing together senior leaders in cybersecurity is returning to Europe.

The program also included the international exercise APEX (Allied Power Exercise) 2025, which involved over 200 participants from 25 countries. The Czech Republic was represented by experts from the government CERT, who formed a joint team with South Korea and Norway. Unlike traditional competitive models, APEX focused primarily on strengthening cooperation between states and sharing practical experience. The authenticity of the exercise was underscored by the inclusion of real attacks that took place in South Korea this year.

On the sidelines of the main events, the Czech delegation attended a closed roundtable for cybersecurity agencies, the Counter Ransomware Initiative, and also held several bilateral meetings. The main topics included sharing experience with legislative changes and analyzing the current cyber threat landscape.

“The active engagement of the Czech Republic in international forums is essential not only for sharing our experience but also for strengthening strategic partnerships. Cybersecurity knows no borders, and its effective assurance requires global coordination,” summarized Director of NÚKIB Lukáš Kintr, thanking his Korean counterparts and international partners for their warm welcome, open discussions, and constructive cooperation: “Such strong and trusted partnerships form the foundation of our collective resilience.”

2025-09-17

Czech Government Approves New National Cyber Security Strategy

On Wednesday, 3 September 2025, the Czech Government approved the new National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS), effective from 2026, which sets out the state’s long-term priorities and objectives in this area. The new strategy, replacing the previous document in force since 2021, responds to the deteriorating global security situation and the technological changes of recent years, while emphasising the need for more intensive cooperation at both the national and international levels.

The National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB) is the lead authority responsible for the document. That said, the NCSS was developed with contributions from dozens of organisations from both the public and private sectors, including via public consultations. The strategy will be implemented through an action plan that is currently being prepared. This plan will assign specific tasks to the responsible institutions to be carried out in order to fulfil the individual strategic objectives. The implementation of these tasks will be evaluated annually and submitted to the Czech Government.

Drawing on an analysis of current threats and opportunities, the NCSS sets out three main strategic areas:

Secure strategic infrastructure – strengthening the resilience of strategic infrastructure and enhancing the state’s ability to detect and counter cyber threats. Whole-of-society preparedness and development – developing citizens’ digital competences, increasing the number and motivation of cyber security professionals, and supporting innovation. International cooperation and pursuit of interests – an active role for Czechia within the EU, NATO and other international organisations, both in its own defence and in protecting an open and free digital space.

According to the strategy, in the coming years, Czechia will need to make greater use of new technologies to secure organisations, prepare for potential transitions to crisis states, and improve the working conditions of cyber security experts in public administration. Czechia should also develop secure alternatives to risky technologies, build new platforms for information sharing, and pursue an internationally coordinated approach to deterring malicious state actors.

“The new strategy confirms that Czechia is among the states capable of responding to today’s challenging security environment while also seizing the opportunities brought by new technologies and widespread digitalisation. We cannot afford to wait passively for what may come. We must detect threats and vulnerabilities in advance and prevent them – this applies both to securing information systems and to confronting malicious state actors such as Russia and China,” said Lukáš Kintr, Director of NÚKIB.

“Together with the institutions responsible for cyber defence, diplomacy and the fight against cybercrime, all addressed together in the strategy, we have a shared perspective of today’s most significant threats. We also agree on where Czechia’s vulnerabilities lie and on what must be done to succeed in the coming years. Our common goal is to provide citizens with a secure cyberspace. The path to this goal leads through investment in the workforce, secure technologies, and mutual trust and cooperation across sectors. Cyber security is an investment in the future and in the competitiveness of our country. The new strategy sets out how to ensure a safer and more prosperous cyberspace for everyone,” added Director Kintr.

The translation of the document into English is in progress.

2025-09-08