(MENAFN) Lithuania plans to establish 44 local cybersecurity operations centers across the country in a bid to bolster its digital defenses amid growing cyber threats, according to reports.

The initiative, spearheaded by the National Cyber Security Center (NKSC), aims to set up a center in each county within the next three and a half years, Rokas Jonikas, director of the Cybersecurity Operations Department, said.

Earlier this year, municipalities in the Siauliai region signed an agreement with the NKSC to open Lithuania’s first joint regional security operations center, seen as a pilot for the nationwide rollout. Local officials indicated the facility could start operating “under an optimistic scenario” by the end of this year.

The Siauliai center is expected to hire four specialists who will provide cybersecurity services to seven municipalities, including monitoring digital infrastructure, detecting and recording incidents, and reinforcing vulnerable systems.

As part of the national plan, the NKSC will supply the necessary hardware, software, and training for the centers, while municipalities will provide premises and cover staff salaries.

The centers will also play a key role in managing major cyber incidents, ensuring seamless coordination between local and national authorities. Officials note that the network will substantially improve Lithuania’s public-sector cyber resilience by making threat detection and incident response capabilities accessible nationwide rather than concentrated solely in the capital.

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