A panel discussion titled "Cybersecurity as a National Priority" was held during the two-day "RISE Powered by Silicon Mountains 2026" high-tech exhibition and forum. Gevorg Mantashyan, First Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia, participated in the event.

Industry leaders, alongside public and private sector experts, discussed current digital security challenges, the evolution of legal regulations, and enhancing the cyber resilience of critical infrastructure. Special attention was paid to the prospects of adopting new technological solutions in the field.

During the discussion, Gevorg Mantashyan presented the ministry's ongoing programs, highlighting the reliability of state digital infrastructure, the security of identification systems, and data protection.

According to the First Deputy Minister, building human capital and having clear rules are key components of the sector's development. Alongside continuous legislative reforms, the ministry runs educational and awareness programs, initiatives for school and university students, and hackathons. These efforts help discover new talent and train high-quality specialists.

The First Deputy Minister also emphasized the importance of passing the Law "On Cybersecurity," noting that the need to regulate this sector had been discussed for years. According to him, while future updates and upgrades to the law are already being discussed, the current priority is to get the newly adopted regulations fully up and running. Once their adoption, impact, and effectiveness are evaluated, the ministry will move on to the next stages of reforms and roll out additional solutions.

Addressing the use of cloud technologies, Gevorg Mantashyan emphasized the need for continuous cooperation with the private sector and the professional community. He noted that choosing and adopting tech solutions must be guided by cost-effectiveness, security, and long-term sustainability.

He also stressed that cybersecurity today is a shared responsibility, requiring close collaboration between the government, the private sector, and the professional community to counter modern threats.