The world as we know it has changed, with current geopolitical conflicts increasingly extending into cyberspace. As a result, cyber security is becoming a crucial pillar of social and economic stability. This was the central message at one of the largest regional cyber security conferences, the Span Cyber Security Arena, which gathered leading international and domestic experts at the Hotel Ambasador in Opatija. „Cybersecurity is becoming the heart of every company today, and IT experts must sit at the same table with management, legal professionals, and compliance teams. They all need to establish a common language because regulatory pressure is growing, and the responsibility for security can no longer be delegated to a single function,’ emphasized Nikola Dujmović, Span CEO, at the opening of the conference.

An Increasingly Sophisticated Future: Both in Attacks and Defense

The conference opened with keynote speeches by former U.S. National Security Agency intelligence analyst Ira Winkler and IBM Technology Director Martin Svik. Dubbed a “modern-day James Bond” due to his innovative espionage simulations that have helped some of the world’s largest organizations fortify their security, Winkler addressed a critical question at the conference: Can a single careless human mistake bring down an entire company? Winkler emphasized that security can no longer rely solely on user vigilance; instead, systems must be designed to prevent human error from escalating into major incidents.

Martin Svik warned that we must seriously prepare for a future in which quantum computers will be powerful enough to break the encryption protecting our bank accounts, emails and state secrets. Among the conference’s most prominent figures was U.S. cybersecurity expert Andy Thompson, who spoke about Agentic Artificial Intelligence—capable of making autonomous decisions and taking independent actions—and highlighted its increasingly important role not only in cyberattacks, but also in defending against them.

In addition to numerous experts addressing the technical aspects of cyber security, specialists in law, regulation, geopolitics, and communication also took the stage, offering a comprehensive perspective on the challenges ahead. “Cyber security is no longer purely a technical issue. It is shaped by the socio-political context in which we live, while the legal and regulatory framework helps us to address it effectively. And finally, when a cyber crisis occurs, we must respond with appropriate communication,” said Antonija Vojnović, Manager of the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Department at Span, who co-directed the conference with Hrvoje Englman, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Span.

The conference also featured presentations on current legal frameworks, delivered by Miroslav Kota and Domagoj Javorović from the Information Systems Security Bureau. Martina Dragičević, Head of the Working Group for Cybersecurity at the Croatian Employers' Association, explained how organizations can navigate and thrive within this increasingly dynamic regulatory environment.

National Policies Are Moving into Cyberspace

Cyberattacks today are no longer merely the work of criminals or hackers seeking personal gain. Increasingly, they serve as instruments of state interests. Robin Dimyanoglu addressed this uncomfortable reality in his lecture, focusing on his book “Geopolitical Cyber Threat Intelligence”. In his presentation, he analyzed how national strategies and political-economic objectives translate into concrete cyberattacks. Using real-world examples—from the war in Ukraine to the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel—he demonstrated how understanding state motivations can help predict future threats.

This year, the Span Cyber Security Arena extends over three days, delivering over forty hours of content and attracting 450 participants, further solidifying its status as one of the region’s leading cyber security conferences.

About the Organizer:

Span is a leading Croatian IT company with over 30 years of experience in developing and implementing advanced technological solutions. The company generates the majority of its revenue in international markets, and in addition to Croatia, it operates through its affiliated companies across Europe, Asia and the United States. Since 2021, Span's shares have been listed on the Zagreb Stock Exchange.

Recognized as a multi-specialist, Span focuses its business on three key strategic areas: cloud computing, cyber security and artificial intelligence. Span is a trusted, professional, and dedicated partner that builds long-term relationships with customers and collaborates with leading global and regional organizations, including Microsoft and Google. It employs more than 850 professionals who design, implement and maintain complex, high-availability information systems aimed at increasing user safety, productivity and competitiveness.