Goran Car (Combis): Our Knowledge Covers Security from A to Z

In its 32 years of operation in systems integration, Combis has recorded a portfolio of solutions and services that number in the hundreds, and with its richly acquired knowledge, it stands out in Croatia and the region as a company capable of delivering the most sophisticated projects in the field of information and communications technology (ICT). In this regard, Goran Car, a director at Combis, emphasized that cybersecurity is among the main topics of Combis’s business.

What important ICT projects is Combis behind?

– We have many excellent projects behind us, among which complex projects for the financial industry and state and public institutions dominate. One of the larger projects this year was for a state institution, during which we migrated over 2000 people from the existing system to the Microsoft 365 platform, which, along with the implementation of all associated security solutions, was indeed a demanding change. It is worth mentioning the virtualization of demanding graphic workstations at Rimac, a solution for managing API (application programming interface) services at Wiener Insurance, and the data center of the future at the Croatian Post Mostar.

What does the Call From Teams project enable for companies?

– Quality internal and external communication in business is very much needed, especially under remote working conditions, and with Call From Teams, simplicity, quality, and the elimination of investment costs in equipment are achieved. The service is intended for all companies, primarily those that apply remote work and strongly rely on the Microsoft Teams platform. Company resources are relieved, and the cost of telephony becomes completely predictable.

Why do you emphasize the importance of a national security operations center?

– A national security operations center would ensure the protection of state and economic processes and institutions with the aim of reducing physical damage from cyberattacks, illegal access to citizens’ personal data, and theft of industrial and state secrets.

In addition, such an approach would lower the maintenance costs and resources for individual bodies. We would also respond to the demands of the European Union, which encourages member states to strengthen capacities in the fight against the increasing number of cyberattacks as well as cross-border cooperation in defense against large cyberattacks. By establishing a national security operations center, information security of digital tools and services for citizens would be ensured, timely responses to threats, incidents, and breaches would be provided, investigations would be initiated promptly, information about breaches would be systematically shared, and protection against advanced threats and their detection would be established.

Why are you particularly focused on security?

– When we talk about the burning issue of cybersecurity, we often do so through the lens of insecurity, or we start discussing how important it is only at moments of some kind of theft, whether of money or data, reputation, and trust, and by then it is too late. We have been dealing with security for a long time, and that is why we are very well acquainted with the situation on the ground. When we presented the 30SEC portfolio two years ago, it was a significant breakthrough that the market desperately needed. With it, we changed the way companies can approach security – so that absolutely all concerns regarding security can be entrusted to an IT partner.

Our knowledge covers security from A to Z. We are proud of the 30SEC we created; it took time, both for ‘tuning’ the technology and for gathering experts and setting up processes. We have achieved all this and are working on many security projects. At the same time, we have been educating the public about security through multiple campaigns for a long time.

Currently, we are in the project of publishing the third picture book ‘Fairy Tales in the Digital World’ which teaches children about online dangers. The goal of these picture books is to educate the youngest about safer and smarter internet use. We believe that children are the most vulnerable group on the internet and that they must be made aware of the dangers lurking in its vastness from an early age. The picture books are intended for the age when children begin to explore the internet independently, from six to ten years old, and they also have a humanitarian character: all proceeds from sales are intended for the Center for Missing and Abused Children.

When will Croatia be digitized?

– That is a question that interests us all. We are entering the 33rd year of existence, and for most of that time, we have been talking about digitization in one way or another. Throughout this time, we have been working to build our own digital and innovative competencies. If we look at society as a whole, we can say that we have been talking about digitization for years and working on it, but it is still not a mature level of digitization. It will be relevant for a long time; we have a lot of work ahead. That is why we are committed to strengthening and educating people, hiring, and learning technology, and on that basis, we are building the future of successful business informatics.

Content created in collaboration with Combis.