Inside NIL’s approach to enterprise security with Beno Ceglar, general manager of NIL, part of Conscia.
What makes Slovenia an ideal environment for ICT development and investment, and how does NIL fit into this landscape?
Slovenia’s appeal lies in its economic steadiness, strategic geographic position, and highly educated workforce, which together foster rapid innovation and scalability in digital technologies. The country’s compact size allows companies like NIL to quickly optimize high-tech solutions locally and then expand them internationally. This is supported by a unique collaboration ecosystem linking academia, government, and business, enhancing both agility and impact.
Foreign investors benefit from Slovenia’s export orientation and its ICT sector’s multiplier effect on other industries like biotech and manufacturing. NIL has been a driving force in this ecosystem since its founding in 1989. As part of the Conscia Group since 2019, NIL leverages extensive European-wide expertise while maintaining deep regional market knowledge.
We prioritize continuous learning and certification to keep the team at the technology forefront. Our Security Operations Center (SOC/MDR) is a regional flagship, recognized for strong innovation in cyber defense. This combination of talent, strategic positioning, and forward-thinking business sets NIL and Slovenia on a strong trajectory toward future digital leadership.
Slovenia builds on well-developed infrastructure, granting superior stability, and quicker project execution. The collaboration between academia, government, startups, and established firms is seamless here, allowing rapid innovation cycles that larger countries might lack. Slovenia serves as an incubator and testbed where solutions are refined before scale-up.
NIL embodies these advantages, competing internationally with a focus on delivering highly specialized cybersecurity and advanced digital services. With deep technical know-how and certified expertise, we deliver a clear competitive edge. We collaborate with vendors to develop cutting-edge education programs and offer a full spectrum of managed and security services to our clients internationally. Our strong regional Security Operations Center anchors our reputation for excellence. Customer experience drives our growth: customer satisfaction leads to recurring business, vital in an information technology services market where trust is paramount. Regionally, NIL leads in cybersecurity innovation, holding prestigious certifications and awards that validate our quality and expertise.
What are the emerging trends and strategic directions for NIL in cybersecurity?
The future is proactive security: shifting from reactive problem solving to pre-attack prevention and resilience. Cyber threats evolve constantly, and organizations must anticipate attacks through continuous offensive security testing, ethical hacking, and real-time system monitoring. NIL invests heavily in AI to enhance these capabilities organically. European Union cybersecurity regulations compel companies to elevate defenses, a trend NIL supports through customer education and by offering cybersecurity services, minimizing risk, protecting reputation, and complying with data security regulations. This approach is increasingly critical in a rapidly digitalizing world.
What challenges does NIL face, and how is the company addressing them?
Talent remains a top challenge. After COVID, competition for skilled IT professionals intensified globally. We attract and retain talent by strong employer branding and healthy workplace culture, exemplified by our “Great Place to Work” certification. We recruit regionally and provide continuous skill development to keep pace with rapidly changing technologies. Regulatory complexity also poses hurdles, with over-regulation occasionally slowing innovation. However, this drives digital maturity, ultimately benefiting clients.
Geopolitical instability has accelerated digital transformation urgency, particularly for cybersecurity. NIL’s agility and focus position us well to capitalize on this accelerating demand. We stay committed to not only meeting today’s challenges but also anticipating client needs to remain a trusted partner.
What message do you have for foreign investors and business leaders interested in Slovenia?
Digital transformation is a strong growth driver for Slovenia’s future. We have high ambitions as a nation, and despite occasional complexities in execution, the trajectory is clear: Slovenia is becoming a respected digital innovation hub. The presence of UNESCO’s International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence in Ljubljana, and building supercomputer and EU AI technology factory, highlights this shift. We invite global partners to collaborate with us in expanding their own and Slovenia’s digital success.