Baku: Albania has emerged as the global leader in cyber security, outranking technological giants such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the ranking, conducted by Estonia's e-Governance Academy (eGA), evaluated 155 countries and territories based on their readiness to prevent and respond to cyber attacks. Albania and Czechia claimed the top positions in this global index, which measures cyber security strength based on a 100-point score.
The index, known as the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI), evaluates countries using 49 indicators divided into 12 capacities within three categories: strategic, preventive, and responsive cybersecurity. It assesses elements such as legislation, cyber units, crisis response plans, and international cooperation. Despite being smaller and more agile, Albania and Czechia have surpassed larger economies, achieving a score of 98.33 out of 100.
Albania's robust cyber defenses were significantly bolstered following a severe cyberattack by Iranian state hackers in 2022, which led to the severance of diplomatic ties with Tehran. This incident prompted a comprehensive overhaul of Albania's legal frameworks, centralizing defense operations under the National Authority for Cyber Security and enhancing partnerships with the EU, the US, and major tech firms. The government also focused on securing e-Albania, a digital portal hosting the majority of the country's public services.
Czechia, sharing the top score with Albania, boasts a stronger digital development level and relies on a centralized national strategy, public-private coordination, and the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (N€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡KIB). Although both countries excelled across all strategic and preventive indicators, they fell short in military cyber defense due to the absence of a published military cyber doctrine.
The NCSI, beyond being a ranking system, serves as an open database of evidence and official documents, aiding governments in identifying gaps and building cyber capacity. As global geopolitical tensions rise, the importance of cyber security as a national priority becomes increasingly evident, with nations striving to protect critical infrastructure from escalating cyber threats.