Despite having been established only four years ago, the Government Data Centre represents the infrastructural cornerstone of Serbia’s digitalisation strategy, and recent accolades confirm that we are on the right track, says Data Cloud Technology CEO Danilo Savic, with obvious pride
Speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine, the CEO of Data Cloud Technology discusses the pace of digitalisation in Serbia and the construction of both the Innovation District and the National Cybersecurity Centre, which he sees as pivotal to Serbia’s strategic approach to information security.
We also explore staff training and professional development, as well as the challenges of the modern digital environment for which DCT offers optimal solutions.
Are you proud of your role in advancing digitalisation, which is an essential need in today’s world?
— The Government Data Centre is not merely an infrastructural base—it is a catalyst for digital transformation in Serbia. As the organisation behind this pivotal component of the national strategy, we are proud to contribute to the modernisation of both the public and private sectors. Digitalisation has become a fundamental necessity of modern society, and our role is to provide secure, reliable and innovative services that enhance business operations and everyday life. Our focus is not only on addressing current needs, but also on creating solutions that will shape the future.
The international community has praised Serbia’s digitalisation efforts, especially progress on eGovernment, yet much remains to be done. The benefits are significant, and it’s clear that you’re on the right track.
— The progress Serbia has achieved in digitalisation, particularly through initiatives like eGovernment, represents a significant step towards sustainable societal development. International recognition undoubtedly confirms that we are heading in the right direction. However, we are aware that digitalisation is a continuous process requiring constant improvement, especially in education and technological accessibility. The benefits are clear: increased efficiency, transparency and resource savings for citizens and businesses alike. At DCT, our mission is to continue driving change and accelerating this process.
Resource savings, particularly savings on time, motivate businesses to embrace digitalisation. Do they see the Government Data Centre as a guarantee of secure and high-quality implementation?
— Resource savings are a key driver motivating businesses to adopt digital solutions. The Government Data Centre is recognised as a synonym for security and reliability, offering companies additional assurance in the digitalisation process. Our infrastructure not only ensures the secure processing and storage of data, but also provides integrated solutions tailored to users’ needs. The combination of our team’s technological expertise and skills guarantees the highest quality digital transition for every client.
Speaking of security and reliability, the Government Data Centre has been classified at the highest internationally recognised level. There’s no room for improvisation here, is there?
— Certification at the Tier 4 level represents the pinnacle of technical excellence and reliability in the industry. This means that every system is secured redundantly and every process is optimised meticulously. To clarify—this certification, in line with international standards (EN 50600 and TIA-942), ensures that all key systems of the centre—power, cooling and telecommunications—are built with complete redundancy (the “2N” concept), where a backup component automatically takes over in the case of a primary system failure. Tier 4 guarantees service availability of 99.995%.
The combination of technological excellence and the expertise of our team guarantees the highest quality in the digital transition process for every client
This infrastructure is designed for the highest levels of resilience and security without compromise. Achieving this level of certification requires exceptional precision in every aspect of operations—from design and construction to management and maintenance. Beyond technical specifications, it reflects our commitment. I believe this dedication provides our clients with an invaluable sense of security, knowing their data is in the hands of a reliable and expert partner. Setting new standards also carries additional responsibility—in terms of continuously exploring and developing new solutions and leading the future of sustainable digital vision.
Apart from making life easier for citizens by saving time and eliminating queues, digitalisation also helps businesses improve their operations. Does this require the continuous introduction of new services and solutions?
— Digitalisation has a transformative impact on society and the economy, creating opportunities to improve business processes and increase efficiency. Understanding client needs is key to developing new services that support business innovation. Our services, such as colocation, cloud options and AI platforms, provide companies and institutions with scalable solutions that eliminate the need for significant investment in their own infrastructure.
At the core of our mission is the motto ’Available. Anywhere, Anytime.’ We ensure data security and infrastructure availability 24/7. I must emphasise that this is backed by the highest level of security, as evidenced by the fact that only eight data centres across Europe have achieved the Tier 4 standard. As IT technology evolves rapidly, we adopt a similar approach: continuous research into innovative solutions within the sector. This is the role of experts—analysing deeply, anticipating needs and developing new solutions. I firmly believe that, as leaders of the digital revolution, this is our responsibility.
Following the construction of the Innovation District, the National Cybersecurity Centre will also be located near the Government Data Centre. Does this signal the need for a serious approach to security challenges?
— We see the Innovation District and the National Cybersecurity Centre as key components of Serbia’s strategic approach to information security. The reason is clear: information security is a growing challenge in today’s dynamic digital environment. We face daily challenges in the digital realm, such as attacks on critical infrastructure systems. These events can be highly complex and can have far-reaching consequences.
At Data Cloud Technology, we take a strategic approach to this issue, deploying the most advanced software tools for threat detection and prevention, developing incident response scenarios and investing in the continuous training for our team. We place special emphasis on awareness-building and training professionals from various fields, as security is not solely a technological challenge, but rather also a human one.
The National Cybersecurity Centre will provide further expertise and support in this area, positioning Serbia as a regional leader and a model for cybersecurity best practices. To summarise: education, multidisciplinary teams and strategic planning are the key elements of our response to the challenges of the modern digital environment. This makes us not only a pillar of security, but also a partner in enhancing resilience against increasingly complex threats, ensuring the security of data and systems is imperative.