Cybersecurity Competence Centre (CCC)

Cybersecurity Competence Centre combines science, innovation and partnerships to build a secure, resilient digital Lithuania. From AI risks to post-quantum encryption, we help government, business and society stay one step ahead of cyber attacks. We don’t just predict and neutralise threats, we turn them into new knowledge that strengthens the future security culture.

Why are we like this?

The Cybersecurity Competence Centre aims to become the leading hub for cyber resilience, research, and education in Lithuania and Europe.

The Cybersecurity Competence Centre (CCC) aspires to be a nationally and internationally recognized centre of innovation, research, and learning, shaping the future culture of cybersecurity.

Our vision is to foster a secure, resilient, and inclusive digital society where technology serves people, and advanced solutions protect both public and private sectors from evolving threats.

We believe that cybersecurity begins with awareness, grows through collaboration, and matures into responsibility – both individual and collective. That’s why our mission goes beyond responding to threats; we strive to anticipate, prevent, and educate about them. Innovative research, inter-institutional collaboration, hands-on training, and the integration of AI security form the four pillars of our vision.

CCC aims to be the centre that shifts mindsets – from reactive to proactive, from isolated initiatives to shared cyber responsibility, and from mere technology use to its safe and ethical application.

Mission

Mission – to strengthen cyber resilience by creating, applying, and sharing knowledge.

The activities of the Cybersecurity Competence Centre are based on the following principles:

Science-based action – solutions are developed using the latest research and data.
Practical value – knowledge is applied in real-world contexts to ensure tangible impact.
Collaboration – close cooperation with national and international partners from academia, business, government, and civil society.
Preventive approach – a focus on anticipating threats rather than merely responding to them.
Openness and knowledge sharing – education and dissemination are considered essential elements of resilience.
Ethics and responsibility – technologies are implemented responsibly, following the highest ethical standards.
Innovation and progress – continuous development of new solutions and experimentation with advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Internal visualisation of the Cybersecurity Competence Center building

Innovation-Driven Research

The Cybersecurity Competence Centre (CCC), operating under the DigiDefence initiative, is at the forefront of advanced research and innovation, where artificial intelligence, blockchain, cyber resilience, and digital forensics converge. The Centre currently leads seven joint research projects between academia and industry, aiming to develop new technological and managerial solutions in the field of cybersecurity.

These research efforts cover a wide range of topics – from AI model security evaluation and early bias detection to the development of quantum-resilient technologies and decentralized cyber networks.

One of the Centre‘s standout research areas involves implementing advanced analytical methodologies in financial crime investigations. AI-based solutions are being developed to assess the legitimacy of financial transactions. Other ongoing projects focus on identifying strategic hybrid threats, ensuring the security of critical infrastructure, preventing digital device surveillance, and designing intelligent work environments.

All of these initiatives are built on close cooperation with Kaunas University of Technology and the national data transmission network LITNET.

DigiDefense project inscription and image with white figures on black background

The DigiDefence initiative reflects
the search for innovative solutions,
bringing together science, business and
practical needs.

CyberFiRD

Cybersecurity research and development in the FinTech sector

CTI-balanced

Cybersecurity threat intelligence based on a sectoral and national collective cybersecurity balanced incentive framework

HIPSTER

Hybrid, information, psychological and societal threat management system for public safety practitioners, businesses and education

OSOTS

An operational technology sensor to improve the detection and response to cyber incidents to ensure the stability, reliability and protection of critical and industrial infrastructure systems against potential cyber threats

AICP-FIMI

AI-powered cloud platform to fight FIMI during elections and early warning service to identify social media bots and troll farms

AFFECTS

Smart, sensory, self-taught and adaptive buildings

EPMwDC

Research and development of a monitor with integrated spyware prevention and malicious activity detection modules

Provided Services

The Cybersecurity Competence Centre (CCC) operates as an advanced service hub, offering solutions grounded in scientific research and the expertise of highly qualified specialists to businesses, the public sector, and the academic community.

Our AI Sandbox service enables technical audits of artificial intelligence models, assessing their resilience to bias, manipulation, and cyberattacks, as well as conducting infrastructure security evaluations. The secure transfer of large datasets (up to 100 TB) into research environments is ensured through specialized equipment and high-bandwidth networks.

Additionally, our digital forensics services include expert assessments in the field of electronic crime, advanced methods for evidence collection and analysis, and hands-on training using real-world cases.

CCC also provides consulting for organizations on AI security strategies, incident analysis, IT risk assessment, and the planning of preventive measures. All of these services contribute to strengthening organizational resilience and building a safer digital environment.

Human Cyber Shield

A strategic initiative by CCC aimed at raising awareness and resilience against cyber threats among people. It targets all layers of society – from school communities to university students and their parents. The initiative’s goal is to build a strong security culture through education, engagement, and practical training.

We are developing a skills matrix to systematically advance cyber competencies, while practical training sessions and simulations provide opportunities to experience real threat scenarios in a safe environment. This helps create a “human firewall”, which becomes the first line of defense in organizations and communities.

Post-Quantum Security

In response to the upcoming challenges posed by quantum computing, CCC participates in the EuroQCI (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure) initiative. We conduct research and develop technologies aimed at quantum-resistant encryption and ultra-secure information transmission infrastructure.

Our team investigates quantum network architectures and post-quantum cryptographic algorithms designed to ensure long-term confidentiality of information even in the era of quantum computing. This is a crucial step towards protecting both public and private data from future threats.

AI Regulatory Compliance

Implementing artificial intelligence requires not only technological expertise but also an understanding of legal and ethical responsibilities. CCC supports organizations in complying with the EU AI Act and other international AI governance standards.

Our experts conduct AI model risk assessments, assist in developing accountability frameworks, and ensure organizations adhere to principles of responsible AI use. The newly introduced CAISO (Chief AI Security Officer) role is our recommendation for modern organizations aiming to strategically manage AI risks.

Team

The activities of CCC are coordinated by the centre director, Prof. Dr. Šarūnas Grigaliūnas, an expert with extensive experience in cybersecurity, IT auditing, and digital forensics. He is a researcher at Kaunas University of Technology, developing and applying practical solutions for cyber threat analysis, SCADA system protection, security policy development, and FinTech sector regulation.

Prof. Grigaliūnas is a certified ISO 27001 auditor, OSSTMM tester, and AI security practitioner, with a special focus on the human role within technological environments. As the head of CCC, he aims to build a safe and inclusive e-society grounded in research and innovation.

Minimalist icon showing a white silhouette of a woman on a grey background

Dr. Rasa Brūzgienė, a researcher at CCC and Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), has over a decade of experience in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and cyber resilience. She leads both national and international research projects (e.g., GAISO, PROCSI), teaches courses on information systems and cybersecurity, and conducts research in areas such as AI security, digital forensics for law enforcement, and information management methodologies. Dr. Brūzgienė is also a member of IEEE and a co-author of numerous scientific journal articles and monographs.