National Cyber and Information Security Agency

Information about the NIS2 transposition in the Czech Republic

The National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB) issued an article in English about the proposal of the new Czech Act on Cyber security, which transposes the NIS2 Directive into Czech law.

The summary in the article contains basic information about the proposal together with the non-official translation of its latest version, the timetable of the legislative procedure, and the main questions and answers.

The article is available here: https://portal.nukib.gov.cz/informace/legislativa/english-new-czech-act-on-cybersecurity

National Cyber and Information Security Agency Strengthens Cooperation with Canada

From October 27 to November 1, Tomáš Krejčí, Deputy Director of the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB), accompanied by Cyber Attachée Berta Jarošová, visited Canada. During the visit, representatives of NÚKIB met with experts from the federal government, private sector, and academia. This visit took place within the framework of the Economic Diplomacy Projects (PROPED) program of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized by the Czech Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Toronto with support from NÚKIB. Selected Czech companies in the field of cybersecurity interested in exploring opportunities in Canada also participated in this mission.

In Ottawa, NÚKIB representatives met with federal government partners to discuss ways to strengthen collaboration in countering cyber threats and protecting critical infrastructure. They met with Bridget Walshe, Director of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, as well as representatives from Public Safety Canada and Global Affairs Canada. “Our discussions with Canadian counterparts confirmed that both the Czech Republic and Canada are currently facing very similar challenges in terms of cyber threats and regulation. Operational cooperation, especially timely information sharing, therefore remains key for us. In the past, thanks to warnings from Canadian partners, we were able to detect potentially malicious activities in the Czech Republic in a timely manner. I’m pleased that we are able to continue to develop and deepen this cooperation,” added Deputy Head Tomáš Krejčí.

During the visit, the Deputy Director also spoke at the InCyber Forum international conference in Montreal, where he discussed the implementation of the NIS2 directive and the preparation of Canada’s federal Bill C-26 on cybersecurity alongside representatives from Canada, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. On the sidelines, the delegation also met with officials from Quebec’s Ministry for Cybersecurity to explore potential areas for sharing expertise between Czech and Quebec experts.

In Toronto, the Deputy Director launched the second annual Czech Cyber Security Forum, attended by representatives from Czech companies as well as Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, universities, and technology companies. The trip also aimed to discuss topics resonating on both sides of the Atlantic that are critical to national security. For this reason, NÚKIB representatives visited the labs of BlackBerry, Canada’s largest software company, where they discussed securing electronic communications and the growing importance of security of connected vehicles.

Another crucial topic was the exchange of experiences in science and research. Strengthening international cooperation in cyber security research and development has long been a priority for NÚKIB. The Czech delegation held numerous meetings with representatives from key research institutions, including CyberEco, the Multidisciplinary Institute for Cybersecurity and Resilience, Canada’s cybersecurity cluster In-Sec-M, and the University of Toronto. “Canada has top research institutions dedicated to the impact of artificial intelligence on cybersecurity and post-quantum cryptography, which are not only priorities for NÚKIB but are also vital for transatlantic relations in general. In the future, we hope to foster connections between Czech and Canadian academic institutions. Potential joint projects could also benefit from the Horizon Europe program, which Canada joined in July 2024,” concluded Cyber Attachée Berta Jarošová.

Czech Experts Support Bhutan in Boosting Cyber Security

The growing number of cyber security incidents poses a significant challenge national governments' efforts to safeguard citizens and critical infrastructure. To address this pressing issue, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi in collaboration with National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB), GovTech Agency Bhutan, and the Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Thimphu organises a three-day seminar from October 9 to 11, 2024, in Thimphu, Bhutan. The seminar aims to strengthen the preparedness and resilience of Bhutanese state institutions through professional training and the sharing of best practices. The program, organized under the auspices of the Agenda 2030 and CyberVac of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, features discussions on the latest legal approaches and strategies in cyber security, an assessment of current challenges within various institutions, and exploration of ways to attract new talent in the cyber security field.

Her Excellency Eliska Zigova, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India and Bhutan, during her last official visit to Bhutan in May 2024, confirmed the Czech Republic´s readiness to provide cyber security experts during a courtesy call with Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. In her opening remarks the Czech Ambassador talked about the importance of strengthening the Czech-Bhutanese relations: “As our daily lives become increasingly digitalized, understanding how to safeguard against potential threats is as crucial as developing robust infrastructure that enhance our quality of life. Czechia is honoured to collaborate with Bhutan and support national authorities in their pursuit of a safer and more resilient future. “

In 2014, Czechia became one of the first nations to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity legislative framework. Recognizing the growing complexity of cyber threats, the Czech government consolidated its technical and personnel resources under NUKIB to strengthen its national response. Veronika Kolek Netolicka, Cyber Attachée for Indo-Pacific at NÚKIB, emphasizes the importance of a solid legal foundation: “Establishing a robust cyber framework wasn't without its challenges, but the experience has shaped our approach today. We’re excited to share our expertise and empower a trusted democratic partner in Asia to navigate the evolving cyber landscape.”

With the rapid adoption of digital technologies and the ongoing digital transformation, Bhutan is facing a growing number of cyber security threats. In response, Bhutan has developed a National Cybersecurity Strategy as part of its 13th Five-Year Plan, led by the GovTech Agency, Bhutan. The plan aims to strengthen the nation's digital infrastructure and cybersecurity resilience.  GovTech Agency Bhutan welcomes the opportunity to host the expert seminar in collaboration with Czechia. Jigme Tenzing, Secretary of GovTech, emphasized in his opening remarks that “the experience sharing through this seminar will help in implementing the action plans outlined in our National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS). By understanding Czechia's journey, we can strengthen our own cybersecurity capabilities and contribute to a more secure digital Bhutan”.

NÚKIB Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lithuanian Regional Cyber Defence Centre

On October 1, 2024, the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lithuanian National Cyber Security Centre (NKSC), marking another major collaboration.

The document was signed during the Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit by the Director of the Lithuanian NKSC, Liudas Ališauskas, and by Pavel Štěpáník, Deputy Director of Strategic Agendas and Cooperation at NÚKIB. With this signature, the Czech Republic has joined the Regional Cyber Defence Centre (RCDC), which is part of the NKSC and falls under the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence.

The RCDC focuses on cyber threat analysis, identifying security vulnerabilities in specific systems, organizing training for cybersecurity professionals, and conducting scientific research in the field. The centre also actively fosters cooperation with strategic partners, such as the USA, Ukraine, Poland, and Georgia, who are also members of the RCDC.

The Czech Republic plans to contribute primarily to RCDC's analytical work, and cooperation in research is also likely. NÚKIB will regularly send its experts to the RCDC. Through this membership, NÚKIB also gains the opportunity to participate in guiding the RCDC's direction, which is decided at the annual board meeting. This year’s meeting will take place in November.

This membership represents a significant step towards developing international cooperation in cybersecurity, thereby strengthening the Czech Republic's cyber defence capabilities.