Skopje, 2 March 2025 (MIA) - If an institution decides to protect itself, it does so. However, we still have no obligation requiring all institutions to do so, which is why we see such inconsistency and certain institutions are very often the target of cyber attacks, Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski said in an interview with Radio Free Europe. 

"Unfortunately, we are a country that has no cyber ​​security law, while all countries in the region and Europe passed such laws 13 years ago. We are now making an effort to pass the law, most likely by June. The law will be our roadmap in terms of cyber protection. Currently, we offer ad-hoc protection in cyberspace. If an institution decides to protect itself, it does so. However, we still have no obligation requiring all institutions to do so, which is why we see such inconsistency and certain institutions are very often the target of cyber attacks," said Andonovski. 

Asked what is the epilogue of the state spending millions of euros on protection so far, Andonovski said many institutions were operating with expired licenses, noting that the cyber security law did not provide for misdemeanour provisions.

"True, an interesting fact is that over 20 institutions have purchased Russian antiviruses. Dozens of institutions have not timely increased or upgraded their protection, and have been working with expired licenses. Many institutions store citizens' data on servers that are later not checked in terms of whether they are sufficiently protected or where they are located," the Minister said, adding that in the new law the Ministry of Digital Transformation will control the process.

He pointed out these were issues that all institutions have been resolving on an ad-hoc basis.

"Unlike all other laws, the laws relating to cyber security had no misdemeanour provisions and inspection supervision in terms of whether those provisions of the laws are respected. In the amendments that we have now adopted and the new Law on Cyber Security, the Ministry of Digital Transformation will control this and potentially punish where we see that institutions are not acting," Minister Andonovski said. 

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