Western Balkan cyber experts competed at Defence Cyber Marvel 4

Eight top cyber experts from Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia showcased their skills on the global stage at Defence Cyber Marvel 4 (DCM4), one of the world´s most prestigious cyber defense exercises. Organized by the British Army Cyber Association, this year´s edition, held from February 24-28, brought together over 1,000 participants from more than 25 countries to test their capabilities in high-pressure cyberattack scenarios.

“Defence Cyber Marvel is a unique and invaluable opportunity for participants to sharpen their leadership, planning, and decision-making skills in a fast-paced, highly realistic environment. We are thrilled that our valued Albanian, Montenegrin and Macedonian partners had the chance to take part in this prestigious exercise,” said Merle Maigre, Head of eGA Cybersecurity Competence Centre.

For the Western Balkan team, the exercise was more than just a competition – it was a chance to collaborate in real time with cyber defenders from around the world.

„The most valuable part of the MARVEL exercise was experiencing real-time collaboration with international teams in high-pressure cyberattack scenarios, reinforcing the importance of rapid response and strategic coordination in defending critical infrastructure. In today´s digital world, collaboration is everything,“ said Rikardo Junčaj, Team Lead at Montenegro Gov-CIRT.

The participation of Western Balkan experts was made possible through EU funding, as part of the Cybersecurity Rapid Response for Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia 2.0 project.

DCM is an annual competition that brings together cyber defenders from armed forces, government agencies, and industry partners to share best practices and strengthen global cybersecurity capabilities in an ever-evolving threat landscape.