“Cyber Security: The Strategic Responsibility of Leaders for a Secure Future”
The number of cyber attacks around the world, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is growing rapidly, confirming that digital security is becoming a matter of survival for companies and institutions. Recognizing the importance of this topic, the American Chamber of Commerce in BiH (AmCham BiH) organized the fifth Cyber Conference “Cyber Security: The Strategic Responsibility of Leaders for a Secure Future”, which brought together business leaders, experts and representatives of institutions with the aim of opening up key issues on resilience to digital threats.
In his opening remarks, AmCham BiH CEO Nedim Hamzić emphasized that cyber security is no longer exclusively a technical issue, but a strategic topic that directly affects business continuity and customer trust.
“Such gatherings enable the exchange of experiences and joint responses to threats that know no borders. Our goal is to raise awareness and help companies be more resilient, because in times of accelerated digital change, cyber security is becoming as important as financial stability and market competitiveness,” said Hamzić.
Amir Sarić, Territory Business Manager at Cisco Systems and President of the ICT Committee of AmCham BiH, spoke about the strategic dimension of cyber resilience:
“Leaders today are not just technical experts, but strategists who understand risks and recognize security as part of a business decision. Cyber resilience must be built into the very foundations of company management, just as important as growth, profit and reputation.”
The conference was opened by a keynote speech by Srđan Babić, Chief of Information Security at Cyber Gate, who spoke about global trends and threats shaping the new security agenda. A great deal of attention was also drawn to the presentation by Marko Gulan, CEO of Astera Advisory, on the transformation of the role of the CISO and the need for board members to develop a cyber-aware culture.
During the three panels held, participants exchanged perspectives on the responsibility of leaders in digital defense, the balance between regulation and market realities, and the management of cyber risks in critical infrastructure. The panel discussions were moderated by Belma Ohranović (Raiffeisen Bank BiH), Senad Džananović (ZIRA) and Emir Arslanagić (Qualys), who highlighted the importance of private and public sector cooperation in strengthening resilience.
The presentation of the results of the AmCham BiH survey on the state of cybersecurity in Bosnia and Herzegovina aroused particular interest. The focus was on the procedures and challenges in reporting cyber attacks, and representatives of the RS Ministry of Interior and the Federal Ministry of Interior participated in the discussion. Moderator Lejla Tulić Ivojević (Artco Group) emphasized the importance of clear procedures and trust between institutions and the business community as key prerequisites for efficient reporting and prevention of cyber incidents.
In addition to expert lectures on personalized attacks, Zero Trust models, resilience to cyber threats and innovative solutions for critical infrastructure, the conference also offered a look ahead – towards building a safer digital environment based on trust and cooperation.
At the end of the conference, LANACO premiered the Local Chapter program, developed in partnership with the Cyber Readiness Institute from New York, designed to strengthen the cyber resilience of medium and large companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The conference was made possible by the support of numerous partners and sponsors: BH Telecom, Artco Group, Core, HT Eronet, M:tel, Mibo Komunikacije, Telemach, UniCredit Bank, Cisco, Exclusive Networks, HTEC, Kodeks, Lanaco, SYS Company and Unija Smart IT.
The Fifth AmCham BiH Cyber Conference once again confirmed that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the knowledge and expertise necessary to strengthen cyber resilience, but also that only a joint approach of the entire organization can respond to the growing challenges of the digital age.
