Albania has been featured in a US State Department report on the security of digital infrastructure in developing countries, in which Washington acknowledges the progress made following the Iran-backed cyberattack in 2022.
In the document submitted to the US Congress, the State Department states that the United States responded to the attack on Albania with a multi-year cybersecurity assistance package worth $25 million.
According to the report, US consultations and training sessions in early 2023 helped the Albanian government define its strategic objectives in this field. By April 2024, Albania had adopted a cybersecurity law and established national agencies for cybersecurity and information security.
The document also highlights the establishment of two major operational centres: a Security Operations Centre (SOC) to protect government networks and a national centre to safeguard critical infrastructure networks.
According to the US State Department, these structures serve as important early-warning partners and strengthen the country’s ability to identify cyber threats, including those linked to Iran.
Cyberattacks targeting a hospital and Tirana Municipality
The report highlights two specific incidents which, according to US authorities, demonstrated the impact of the assistance provided to Albania.
The first was a cyber incident in October 2024 that affected a major Albanian hospital. The second was an attack in June 2025 targeting the networks of Tirana Municipality.
The US State Department assesses that the Albanian government responded quickly and effectively in both cases, taking measures to contain the attacks and limit the damage.
However, the document does not name the hospital affected, identify those directly responsible for either incident, or provide a financial assessment of the damage. Therefore, the report should not be interpreted as confirmation that both incidents were Iranian cyberattacks.
Albania joins international cyber incident response network
Another key element of the report is Albania’s membership in FIRST, the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, an international network that facilitates cooperation and information sharing on cyber threats.
Albania is among 11 countries whose national cyber incident response teams gained FIRST membership between 2016 and 2025, with support from the US State Department and cooperation with the Software Engineering Institute.
According to the report, this cooperation enables information sharing with US counterparts, earlier identification of threats and international coordination to prevent cyberattacks.
US: Further support is needed
Despite its positive assessment, the US State Department emphasises that Albania still requires support to further develop its cybersecurity expertise and capabilities.
The report places Albania’s case within a broader US strategy to help partner countries protect their digital infrastructure, limit risks associated with technology suppliers considered untrustworthy by Washington, and strengthen the security of critical networks.
In this context, the document also refers to technological competition with China, arguing that countries’ choices regarding equipment, cloud services and digital infrastructure have implications not only for national security but also for international trade and economic influence.
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