Croatia strengthens cybersecurity as attacks rise, Span Centre trains 3,000 professionals

ZAGREB, 17 Feb (Hina) – Cybersecurity in Croatia is stronger than it was one or two years ago, thanks to increased awareness among individuals and organisations about online threats and growing investment in education, said Marinko Žagar, head of the Span Cyber Security Centre, at the centre’s Open Day event.

The event showcased the centre’s training programmes and lecturers. Žagar stressed that the courses are designed to be simple and accessible, focused on operational tasks, the latest threats, and modern protection tools and techniques, with most programmes including hands-on practical work.

IT company Span founded its Cyber Security Centre in 2022, and in 2025 it became a licensed adult education institution. Over the past two and a half years, the centre has trained more than 3,000 individual participants, including over 500 in specialist programmes, from around 200 companies, Žagar said.

He noted that the number of cyberattacks is rising, which is why they are being discussed more frequently in public, including high-profile incidents such as an attack on Zagreb University Hospital Centre (KBC Zagreb).

“There are many malicious messages and emails through which attackers try to obtain citizens’ personal data and ultimately their financial resources. That is why it is crucial for people to learn more, stay informed and educate themselves. At the Span centre, we aim to expand that knowledge, present the problem and propose solutions,” Žagar said.

Currently, two programmes are active: the Cybersecurity Analyst programme and the Cloud Security Academy. Approval is being sought for a new programme on secure programming. Žagar emphasised that upon completion, participants receive a certificate that is officially recorded in their employment documentation.

He invited all interested individuals to apply for training, noting that vouchers from the Croatian Employment Service are available until June.

Commenting on new EU-level cybersecurity legislation, Žagar said Croatia is slightly ahead of many other EU member states, as it adopted its Cybersecurity Act in 2024.

“In certain areas, we are far ahead of some EU member states, even among the leaders. However, in other areas we are weaker, particularly because we do not have equally high-quality network and fibre-optic connectivity across all parts of Croatia. The country must have infrastructure it can manage itself, rather than relying on something that could be shut down overnight,” he said.