From 6 to 8 October 2026, Czech and Bhutanese institutions continued their long-term cybersecurity cooperation through a three-day seminar in Thimphu. The programme focused on strengthening national capacities for cybercrime response, incident coordination, and responsible public reporting on cybersecurity incidents.
Following activities implemented in previous years, the seminar brought together representatives of government institutions, regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, and media organisations. The programme was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi, the National Cyber and Information Security Agency of the Czech Republic (NÚKIB), Bhutan’s GovTech Agency and the Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Thimphu, with the support of the CyberVac programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
The 2026 seminar follows earlier Czech–Bhutanese capacity-building activities focused on cybersecurity policy, legislative frameworks, and digital forensics. Delivered by Czech cybersecurity professionals Veronika Kolek Netolická, Petra Lompejová, Ondřej Polák, and Žaneta Puttnerová, this year’s programme marks another step in the growing partnership between Czechia and Bhutan. By bringing together technical experts, policymakers, regulators, law enforcement representatives, and media professionals, the initiative contributes to stronger institutional resilience, practical knowledge sharing, and a more coordinated national cybersecurity ecosystem.
The first two days were dedicated to cybercrime response and the development of standard operating procedures. Participants examined the cybersecurity threat landscape, the incident-response lifecycle, and the roles of different institutions during a cyber incident. Practical sessions focused on evidence preservation, escalation mechanisms, inter-agency coordination, and information sharing. Through group work and a tabletop exercise, participants tested draft procedures against a realistic incident scenario and identified opportunities to improve cooperation among technical, regulatory, and law-enforcement stakeholders.
The final day focused on journalists, and media professionals. Sessions covered common cyber threats, digital hygiene, source verification, and safe investigative practices, as well as the media’s role in promoting cybersecurity awareness. Particular attention was paid to accurate and responsible reporting without creating unnecessary public concern or compromising an ongoing investigation.
‘Effective cyber incident response depends not only on technical expertise, but also on clear institutional roles, trusted information sharing, and responsible public communication. This seminar reflects the practical and long-term character of Czech-Bhutanese cooperation,’ said Veronika Kolek Netolická, Cyber Attachée for the Indo-Pacific at NÚKIB.
Czech experts shared practical experience in incident response, coordination, stakeholder cooperation, and cybersecurity communication. The programme combined expert presentations with discussion, scenario-based exercises, and peer exchange, allowing participants to relate international practices to Bhutan’s institutional and operational environment.