Romania eyes cybersecurity as next big tech industry amid rising digital threats

Romania’s technology sector is moving beyond traditional outsourcing toward cybersecurity, which is being touted as the next high‑value industry. Rapid digitalisation, AI‑driven services and booming e‑commerce have exposed vulnerabilities in companies’ cloud‑based infrastructures, prompting major players such as Bitdefender, Palo Alto Networks and Microsoft Security to deploy AI‑powered threat detection and behavioural analytics. The rise of sophisticated attacks—including AI‑generated phishing, deep‑fake voice scams and automated fraud targeting online retailers—has made continuous monitoring, multi‑factor authentication and identity verification essential for protecting digital business operations.

At the same time, Romanian internet users are adopting privacy‑enhancing habits. They are increasingly using password‑manager apps to generate unique passwords, enabling two‑factor authentication across accounts, and scrutinising platform licences and security certificates before registration. Users are also limiting personal data shared on social media, revoking unused third‑party app permissions, and employing VPNs on public Wi‑Fi to encrypt traffic and mask IP addresses. These practices aim to reduce exposure to data breaches and online fraud as cyber threats grow more complex.