Caretaker Electronic Governance Minister Georgi Sharkov emphasized that timely response and accurate situational assessment are paramount in the current environment of cyber threats and information influence operations. Speaking at the conclusion of DisInfoHack 2026 at Sofia University’s GATE Institute on Monday, the minister detailed that the RESIST model—which encompasses threat recognition, early warning, and situational assessment—forms the basis for counteraction. While initially designed for the information sphere, this framework is now being widely applied to both cybersecurity and hybrid operations.
Minister Sharkov stressed that modern risks extend beyond technical cyberattacks to include information operations, content manipulation, and campaigns designed to sway public opinion. He noted that these efforts often target the most vulnerable “infrastructure”: public consciousness. He highlighted Bulgaria’s national cyber situational centre, which coordinates efforts across several bodies, including the Ministry of Electronic Governance, the Interior Ministry, the State Agency for National Security, and the Defence Ministry.
A persistent challenge, the minister pointed out, is translating analysis into real-time operational action. “It is not enough to understand how something happened months later; we must be able to react in real time,” Sharkov stated. He expressed confidence that initiatives like DisInfoHack are vital for developing skills in early identification of disinformation and understanding complex hybrid scenarios.
The minister called for enhanced cooperation among institutions, the scientific community, and experts to bolster digital sovereignty. This effort is part of the CoDE project, which aims to study the information environment and establish best practices for countering disinformation. Effective responses to contemporary information challenges, he concluded, depend fundamentally on this level of coordination
Topics: #assessment #governance #minister
Focusing on accurate assessment alongside rapid response seems to be the most critical takeaway for national digital security right now.