60 seconds that decide national security. Experts: The technology is ready – the system still needs integration
Is the state capable of moving from incident reporting to real action within a single minute? Participants of the Resilience_Tech Bydgoszcz 2026 conference have no doubts: this is already technologically possible. The key challenge, however, remains system integration, interoperability between services, and building a coherent model of critical communications.
Representatives of public administration, the technology sector, and emergency services gathered in Bydgoszcz to discuss how to shorten response times, strengthen state resilience, and prepare public institutions for real crisis scenarios. The conference was organized by the Digital Poland Association and brought together experts in security, cybersecurity, and crisis management.
Critical Communications — the Missing Link
One topic stood out particularly strongly during the conference: communications. Efficient, secure, and resilient communication was identified as the foundation of state operations in crisis situations.
Poland remains the only country in the European Union without a unified, nationwide communication system for emergency services, which significantly hinders the development of a coherent response framework. At the same time, participants emphasized that all the necessary components to build such a system already exist — both in terms of technology and expertise.
The importance of secure communication was also highlighted by Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Paweł Olszewski: “Regulations, while necessary, are not enough. Solutions for communication and secure connectivity are the foundation of resilience. We are currently testing a fully encrypted, secure Polish communicator, which will initially be available to central administration, local governments, and selected critical entities.”
The Technology Is There — It’s Time for Deployment
Throughout the conference, speakers repeatedly stressed that Poland is not starting from scratch. The market already offers solutions that can be implemented today — from incident management systems and advanced analytics tools to private 5G networks.
Examples of private 5G deployments (including a case study from Rzeszów) demonstrated that it is possible to build independent, resilient communication systems — particularly at the local level, where speed of response and operational autonomy are crucial. Such solutions can complement national systems and enhance the resilience of the entire state.
Experts also emphasized the need to design systems in a way that eliminates so-called “single points of failure.” This means building architectures based on redundancy, decentralization, and the ability to operate even under conditions of partial infrastructure damage. In practice, this also requires incorporating offline scenarios as an integral part of the security model.
At the same time, it was underlined that even the most advanced technologies cannot replace people — competencies, procedures, and public awareness remain critical.
“Technology is no longer the limiting factor. The biggest challenge is the state’s ability to use it effectively — through system integration, shortening decision-making paths, and building a coherent response model. This is what will determine whether 60 seconds becomes a real operational standard in crisis situations,” summarized Michał Kanownik.
The conference was held under the honorary patronage of Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Ministry of Digital Affairs, NASK, the Cyber Defence Forces Component Command, the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivode, and the Mayor of Bydgoszcz. Event partners included leading technology companies such as AMD, Ericsson, Euvic Solutions S.A., Google, Nokia, Samsung, IS-Wireless, and Infonet Projekt.
“Technology today forms the foundation of our resilience to crisis situations — both natural and those caused by hostile actions. By working closely together, we can use technology to prevent incidents, identify threats, and respond effectively,” said Michał Kanownik in his opening remarks.
Integration Instead of More Systems
One of the key conclusions from the discussions is the need to move away from a sector-based approach toward building a single, integrated response system. Today, systems related to cybersecurity, crisis management, critical infrastructure, and communications operate in parallel — but not always in a coordinated manner.
As emphasized during the discussions, modern threats do not respect institutional boundaries. Increasingly, cyberattacks produce real-world consequences — disrupting energy supply, communications, or public administration. In such cases, the ability to instantly connect data, competencies, and decision-making within a single operational system becomes critical.
Experts agreed that interoperability is no longer a “development option” but a prerequisite for effective action. Without it, even the most advanced technologies lose their operational value.