Last week, the Locked Shields 2025 Cyber Defence and Strategic Decision Making Exercise, which is held annually by the NATO Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, concluded last week. North Atlantic Treaty Organization Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence — NATO CCDCOE). The representatives of Slovenia proved that we have domestic top experts in cybersecurity. Among them, at the Slovenian Technology Forum, GIZ (STF) we are extremely proud of our members, companies SSRD, Koofr and 3fs Nordic, who have once again proved that they are among the top in the world in terms of knowledge, skills and experience.
Slovenia competed this year alongside Italy and representatives of the Colorado National Guard from the United States and together they reached 3rd place, the highest ranking so far. We can say without modesty that these are the Olympic Games - 4000 participants from 41 countries - in the field of cyber defense and security assurance and that such successes are exceptional and proof that in Slovenia we really have top experts in this field, which unfortunately we often do not even realize.
This year's third place is no accident and proves that we have elite cybersecurity experts in Slovenia who could be the envy of many countries. First of all, because it is worth highlighting the excellent cooperation and diligence of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, which enables progress in this area year after year. Secondly, because it is proof and an example of good practice of successful and exemplary cooperation between state authorities and the economy. And thirdly, because this year's result is the result of many years of targeted work, gaining knowledge and experience in Slovenian companies and we can proudly say that we beat many professional teams.
Representatives of the companies — members of the STF who participated in this exercise said:
Gregor Spagnolo, SSRD: “The success we have achieved in the exercise is not the result of chance, but of four years of effort and collaboration between the public and private sectors. Through an extraordinary partnership and the efforts of all involved, from both companies and government authorities, we have proven that together we can do more. This achievement is not only a testament to our world-class experts, but also a confirmation that, with combined strength, knowledge and experience, we can push boundaries and achieve exceptional results.”
Damjan Matičič, Co-author:“We participated in the Locked Shields exercise for the third year in a row and proved once again that Slovenia not only has companies and experts from the private and public sectors who are competent to defend against cyber threats on a global scale, but that they can cooperate very well and achieve really excellent results.”
Andraž Logar, 3fs:“If we are aware that these are the Olympic Games, then we are also aware of this, it gives the goal of every professional or athlete: a medal. For the fifth year in a row, a selection of cyber experts, companies and representatives of the public sector are creating a representation of the best. And this year we succeeded. But to replicate this success, it will take even more work, even more ambition and an even more professional environment. We can't wait for a new DoD invitation, for Locked Shields 2026!”
As noted by the organizers in Slovenia, the Ministry of Defence in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, “the aim of the exercise in Slovenia is also to establish closer cooperation between the public and private sectors in the field of cybersecurity and defense, therefore, in addition to the trainers of state bodies, representatives of companies participate in the exercise”.
Although cyber threats are usually hidden from the eyes, they are something intangible, but only until a cyberattack or other form of abuse happens to us. Then the breed can blur before our eyes, the heart rate increases, and the first thought is for sure — what now, who can help us, who can save us?
And this is exactly what we highlight as extremely important in the STF, also in the light of new legislation in the field of information security on the one hand and the increasingly frequent cyber threats and attacks on the other. Awareness of the importance of ensuring adequate information and cyber security is improving in Slovenia, but more formal and informal education, continuous training and, above all, more financial investments will be required, both by companies and the state. For the latter, efficiency and transparency in the allocation of public funds (mainly through calls for tenders) should be an imperative.
Therefore, we would also like the country to establish an adequate infrastructure for the continuous training of cyber defense and security professionals, so as to invest even more in this area and give opportunities to domestic companies and professionals. Last but not least, there will also be a need for wider awareness and one of the very attractive forms is certainly competitions or simulations of a cyber attack that could be followed live as interested individuals.
Let us conclude: Slovenian knowledge in the field of cyber defense and security should become an important “export item”, which is already appreciated and recognized beyond our borders. Knowledge, on the other hand, has and creates the real added value for the real development breakthrough of Slovenia, which is also the vision of the Slovenian Technology Forum.
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