Albania has been ranked first in the world in the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI), scoring 98.33 points for the development of national cybersecurity capabilities.
Prime Minister Edi Rama described the result as a “historic success”, attributing the achievement to years of investment in strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure and cybersecurity institutions.
Rama linked the ranking to the major cyberattack against Albania on July 15, 2022, which Albanian authorities attributed to Iran. He said the attack, which targeted the country’s government digital infrastructure, failed to cripple Albania and instead became the starting point for a comprehensive overhaul of its cybersecurity defenses.
“We were hit on July 15, 2022. In 2023, we moved to 54th place thanks to the launch of a new defense architecture and the development of high-level professional capabilities within the new cybersecurity agency,” Rama said.
He recalled that Albania had climbed to 15th place in 2025 and has now reached the top of the global ranking.
According to Rama, the progress has been driven by the development of a new cybersecurity architecture, investments in technological and professional capabilities, and cooperation with international partners, including Israel.
“This is not a magical leap in the rankings, nor a gift that fell from the sky. It is the result of major efforts to build world-class technological capabilities and first-rate institutional and professional expertise,” Rama said.
The prime minister also highlighted the use of artificial intelligence as part of Albania’s cybersecurity defense system, saying that technological innovation has become an increasingly important component of the country’s efforts to protect its digital infrastructure.
Rama said cyberattacks against Albania have continued but have failed to cause damage comparable to the 2022 attack.
“The Tehran regime wanted to show us how weak we were. In fact, it forced us to become the power we are today in protecting Digital Albania,” he said.
He also described the first-place ranking as evidence of the importance of international alliances and cooperation in cybersecurity.
However, Rama warned that Albania cannot afford to become complacent. He said cybersecurity efforts must continue and that stronger protections should also be extended to the private sector.
“The work continues with determination, because in the new world of technology, whoever is first today can be last tomorrow, while our defensive wall must extend everywhere, including the private sector,” Rama said.
Albania’s rapid rise in the NCSI rankings marks a significant transformation for a country that became a prominent target of state-linked cyberattacks in 2022 and subsequently made cybersecurity a major national security priority.
