Slovenia’s TSO ELES joins European Network for Cyber Security

Slovenia’s transmission system operator ELES has joined the European Network for Cyber Security, reinforcing collaborative efforts to protect Europe’s electricity grid from evolving cyber threats.

The partnership will give ELES access to the European Network for Cyber Security’s (ENCS) collaborative threat intelligence, specialist training and technical expertise – strengthening its ability to detect, prevent and respond to cyber incidents targeting high-voltage networks across Slovenia and beyond, ENCS said.

The move comes amid rising pressure on Europe’s grid operators. According to the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity’s ENISA Threat Landscape 2025, operational technology – the backbone of electricity networks – faces an increasing range of cyber threats, with incidents growing in frequency and sophistication.

As nation-state activity intensifies and consumer-connected devices expand the attack surface, coordinated action to protect critical infrastructure has never been more essential, the network underlined.

Nijk: Europe’s power systems are only as strong as their weakest link

Of note, Slovenia started the development in March of a robust cybersecurity framework for the electricity sector, based on an AI system.

“Europe’s power systems are only as strong as their weakest link,” ENCS Managing Director Anjos Nijk stressed.

ELES’s new membership strengthens joint defences and brings valuable regional expertise to the table, he explained. As Slovenia’s grid underpins stability across Central Europe, its participation will help drive the shared strategies and capabilities needed to counter evolving cyber threats, Nijk added.

Rolih: Grid cybersecurity is a team effort

Gorazd Rolih, SOC Manager at ELES, recalled that grid cybersecurity is a team effort.

“Joining ENCS allows us to both contribute to and benefit from Europe-wide collaboration, sharing intelligence, best practices and operational insights that make every member stronger,” he said.

The European Network for Cyber Security is a non-profit membership organisation that brings together critical infrastructure stakeholders and security experts to deploy secure European critical energy grids and infrastructure.

Founded in 2012, ENCS provides cybersecurity solutions and counsel dedicated to the needs of national distribution system operators (DSO), transmission system operators (TSOs) and regulators.