During January 30-31, 2025, the “European Digital Innovation Days in Insurance” took place at Sofia Tech Park. The event was organized by EDIH Trakia under the Cyber4AllSTAR project, with financial support from the European Union’s “Digital Europe” program and the national program “PNIIDIT 2021-2027.” It was held in partnership with leading organizations in the sector, such as the “Cyber360” Academy and “CyberOne”—founders of EDIH Trakia—as well as Lev Ins, with whom the Hub has been collaborating since 2023 as part of the national campaign “Protect the Child Online.”
The events focused on innovations in cybersecurity and digitalization in the insurance sector, aiming to inform and inspire representatives of insurance companies, brokers, and businesses actively seeking ways to achieve digital transformation and security.
The opening session of the “Investor Days” conference was filled with keynote speeches and presentations addressing the main challenges and solutions in cybersecurity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The event began with a welcome speech by Dr. Hristian Daskalov, Chairman of the Management Board of EDIH Trakia, who introduced European initiatives supporting national cybersecurity and emphasized the importance of investments in this sector.
The first day of the event was dedicated to SMEs, with a key highlight being the presentation by one of the leading experts in the field—Emilia Slavova, Director of “General Insurance” at Lev Ins. She shared with the audience the latest products and solutions in cyber insurance, highlighting the critical need for businesses to have adequate protection against rising cyber threats. Slavova also presented new opportunities tailored for SMEs.
This was followed by a dynamic discussion and a presentation by Kiril Grigorov, a Board Member of the European Cybersecurity Organization, who introduced the cybersecurity services available to companies through the Hub. Grigorov emphasized the need to build resilient security strategies to meet evolving market requirements.
Petar Kanchev, Head of the Training Team at EDIH Trakia, delivered an engaging presentation on various cyber threats and their impact on businesses. He discussed how to assess risks about clients and provided insights on planning and conducting effective meetings with them.
To conclude the events of the first day, Yasen Tanev introduced the audience to EDIH Trakia’s new self-assessment tool for companies’ readiness for the DORA regulation, which will soon be available on the Hub’s website. Traditionally, some of the events were held in a hybrid format and streamed live on the Hub’s social media channels.
The second day of our consulting events was dedicated to digital solutions designed for corporate clients. Kiril Grigorov presented the concept of a 360-degree transition in cybersecurity, while Vladislav Milev introduced participants to various sales techniques.
The final session of the series of informational and consulting events, “Demonstration Days,” attracted an impressive attendance of over 100 participants in the “OWASP Sofia Meetup” format. This unique event brought together leading cybersecurity experts, students, young professionals, and enthusiasts actively contributing to the growth of this rapidly evolving field.
The EDIH Trakia team hosted this dynamic session, which featured presentations and live demonstrations from specialists at leading cybersecurity companies such as Amatas and Foothold Security. The event’s key hosting role was taken on by Miglén Evlogiev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Cybersecurity Association, who introduced the latest trends and innovations in cyber defense.
Among the speakers who presented at the event were:
- Petar Djalaliev from Amatas demonstrated how the OS Command Injection vulnerability can be exploited through CRLF Injection in SNMP Services. His presentation was highly appreciated by attendees for its practical examples and deep understanding of the topic.
- Lyuben Petrov, also from Amatas, provided a detailed overview of Active Directory exploitation techniques, giving the audience a clear understanding of vulnerabilities and ways to prevent breaches in corporate networks.
- Milcho Hekimov from Foothold Security closed the evening with a presentation titled “Authentication Gone Bad,” where he discussed penetration testing methods and how combining different vulnerabilities can lead to more effective attacks.
Young professionals in the audience were actively engaged in discussions and Q&A sessions, with the event concluding in lively conversations and an exchange of ideas. The passion for knowledge and innovation was evident, and the EDIH Trakia team expressed their satisfaction with the immense interest and active participation of so many young talents.
The meetup not only successfully wrapped up the consulting days of EDIH Trakia but also demonstrated that interest in cybersecurity and digital transformation in Bulgaria is growing by the day. EDIH Trakia remains committed to supporting the sector’s development by providing a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration between experts and the next generation of professionals.
A huge thank you to all the participants who made these two days so special!
We look forward to our upcoming events and the opportunity to continue fostering learning and innovation in cybersecurity.