CRDF Global Hosts Executive Cyber Awareness and Digital Protection Training in North Macedonia

As a part of the Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience Program sponsored by the U.S. State Department’s EUR/ACE Bureau, CRDF Global brought together 27 representatives from nine government institutional groups in North Macedonia, for Executive Cyber Awareness and Digital Protection for Trusted Ministerial Staff.

This first activity from the Cybersecurity Capability Package is a practical step toward a larger goal to help North Macedonia strengthen the people, processes and technologies and developed required capabilities needed to anticipate, manage, and respond to cyber threats.

The training focused on a challenge that often receives less attention than technology: protecting the people who work closest to government decision-makers.

Through real-world espionage cases, practical exercises, and scenario-based discussions, participants explored how everyday decisions, opening an unexpected message, using an unfamiliar USB drive, scanning a QR code, or sharing a document through an unapproved channel, can create serious security risks.

One of the most valuable aspects was the exchange between participants. Representatives from ministerial cabinets, security and intelligence agencies, and other government institutions worked in mixed groups, challenged assumptions, and shared different perspectives. Their discussions showed why cybersecurity awareness matters across government, not just within IT departments.

Participants also expressed interest in more hands-on training of this kind.

And this is only the beginning.

The broader Cybersecurity Capability Package will build on this foundation through interagency exercises high level TTX and CTF activity and specialized capability development in cyber threat intelligence and cybersecurity auditing.

Because protecting government institutions starts with informed people, practical skills, and the ability to work together when it matters.