The Polish city has found itself among the technological elite. "We're talking about a strategic location."

• Companies are investing more and more boldly in automation, digital twins and IoT, treating them not as a fad, but as a condition for competitiveness.
• "The pandemic was a turning point. Businesses had to transition to digital processes overnight," emphasizes Przemysław Kania, CEO of Cisco in Poland. Those that invested in technology emerged from the crisis stronger.
• The barriers do not lie in budgets, but in the minds of managers - Polish companies still prefer to "do everything themselves" instead of using the cloud, outsourcing and know-how of specialized suppliers.
• The WNP Economic Trends report "From Tape to Algorithm: How Digitalization Is Shaping the Future of Industry" will premiere at the New Industry Forum (Katowice, October 14-15, 2025).

Cisco recently released a report in which you point out that artificial intelligence is, on the one hand, the greatest threat, and on the other, the greatest shield in the area of ​​digital security. It's a bit of an arms race, in which companies will always be one step behind cybercriminals. What does this look like from the perspective of your company and the report you prepared?

Firstly, our report doesn't provide a clear verdict – it's impossible to say that AI is solely a threat or solely an opportunity. The fact is that artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities for cybercriminals: it gives them tools to act faster, more precisely, and on a larger scale. But at the same time, this same technology creates incredible defensive capabilities . It's a bit of a double-edged sword. The question isn't "whether to use AI," but "who will do it more effectively and how."

It's important to remember that AI in cybersecurity isn't a recent novelty. Machine learning-based solutions have been used for years to analyze threats and detect unusual patterns in network traffic. The difference is that these tools are becoming increasingly accessible, widespread, and advanced . Until recently, only specialists knew about them, but now—in the age of ChatuGPT and other large-scale language models—everyone sees the enormous potential this technology holds.

Similar mechanisms that help us conduct conversations with chatbots are used to identify threats in cyberspace. AI can analyze millions of events in real time, detect anomalies, and respond to signals that would be imperceptible to humans. And here I am optimistic – I believe that artificial intelligence will tighten systems and significantly increase the level of digital security.

But we must also remember the darker side. The AI ​​infrastructure itself—the models, data, and algorithms on which everything relies—must also be protected. If a large language model or analytical system falls victim to an attack, it becomes a weapon in the hands of cybercriminals. That's why today we're not only talking about how to use AI for defense, but also how to protect the AI ​​systems themselves, so they don't get hacked and start working against us.

Fighting cyberattacks

Cisco also faced an attack that leaked data from its CRM system. Doesn't this undermine trust in technology providers and demonstrate that even global giants are helpless against hacking methods?

"Of course, we are subject to numerous attacks, like any large, global company. This is our daily experience—thousands of hacking attempts, phishing attacks, automated bots, DDoS attacks, and data extortion attempts. I don't want to minimize the incident involving the CRM system leak, but for us it was of marginal significance, both in terms of scale and impact. It was quickly identified, isolated, and neutralized."

It's crucial that companies like Cisco have extensive mechanisms in place to respond to these types of incidents—from 24/7 monitoring, to automatic anomaly detection systems, to immediate crisis response procedures. Therefore, the risk balance is favorable for us— even if an incident does occur, it doesn't translate into a loss of customer trust or serious operational consequences.

It's also important to emphasize that the mere fact of an attack isn't a sign of weakness. Anyone can be attacked. The question is how quickly and effectively an organization can defend itself, detect threats, and minimize damage. This is where the advantage of large technology vendors, who have access to cutting-edge tools and knowledge, becomes apparent .

Therefore, I would disagree with the statement that global players are helpless against hackers. On the contrary, we are on the front lines, and thanks to this, we can develop technologies that protect not only us but also thousands of our customers around the world.

But often, it starts with marginal things. It's a kind of testing where the system will let an attack through.

We detected this attack very quickly – we had the situation under control within hours of detection. As a result, it didn't cause any serious damage to our customers or our systems. This was one of the few cases that actually affected us and shows that even the most secure organizations can find themselves in the crosshairs.

Of course, anyone—from global corporations to small businesses—can become a target for an attack. Cybercriminals look for weaknesses everywhere. But it's important to emphasize that technology today offers incredible defense capabilities. Thanks to artificial intelligence, automation, and real-time monitoring systems, we can detect anomalies, respond to them almost immediately, and learn from every incident.

Digitalization is developing at a rapid pace. Each of us—whether as a company, institution, or ordinary user—is becoming increasingly dependent on digital tools. This naturally leads to more attacks, as cybercriminals go where the greatest value is . But we must look at the bottom line: digital technologies have opened up enormous opportunities for development, innovation, and communication. Without them, the world wouldn't function at such a pace.

Therefore, despite the growing number of incidents, the balance is definitely positive – we gain significantly more than we lose. Technology gives us not only efficiency but also increasingly better defense tools. As providers and leaders in this industry, our task is to ensure that this advantage always belongs to users, not cybercriminals.

Kraków among the tech elite. "We're talking about a strategic location."

Krakow is one of the largest Cisco centers in the world. Is Poland truly becoming the heart of digital Europe, or are we still just an outsourcing hub for global corporations?

"As for Cisco, we made the decision to build a Competency Center in Krakow almost two decades ago. It was a strategic decision, the consequences of which are clearly visible today. The Center has been in existence since 2012 and from the outset, it had the ambition to be more than just a local office."

When I co-founded it, there were only a few dozen people working there – it was a small, close-knit team building the foundations. When I left to take up my current role, there were already several hundred employees, and today we employ over three thousand people in Krakow .

By Cisco standards, this is a truly enormous number. It's the largest center for our employees in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Importantly, it's not just a support center, but a place where global innovation thrives . For Cisco, Krakow has become a key point on the map of technological competences, and for Poland, proof of our ability to attract and retain strategic investments.

There, we develop software for the Splunk cybersecurity system, one of our flagship solutions worldwide. Krakow is home to teams responsible for implementing the most advanced projects in Europe. We also have a Technical Assistance Center, which provides 24/7 support to clients, from local enterprises to global players, in resolving issues.

All of this means that Kraków is no longer a "peripheral" location within Cisco's structures, but one of our strategic pillars. This is a truly phenomenal success story, of which we are very proud.

But is this just one large investment, or is Poland actually becoming a country where a technology hub can establish itself for good?

From Cisco's perspective, it definitely is. Poland today isn't just a place for cheaper support centers or back offices, as it was a decade ago. We're talking about a strategic location, one that ranks alongside Silicon Valley, Bangalore, and Mexico City. Krakow has joined this elite group, alongside Cisco's largest centers in the world. This demonstrates that Poland has the potential to be not only a recipient of technology , but also a place where these technologies are created and exported on a global scale. This is our technological valley, with enormous significance both for Cisco and for the entire digital map of Europe.

Institutional support

What about the government's perspective? Do decision-makers support such investments and think about them strategically?

Governments – both the current and previous ones – have always been interested in attracting this type of investment. This is natural, as we're talking about projects that create thousands of jobs, generate taxes, and build Poland's image as a modern, dynamic, and innovative country. Every government, regardless of political affiliation, realizes that such projects are more than just another office or factory – they are investments that permanently embed the country in the global technological ecosystem.

When we decided to locate our center in Krakow, we received real institutional support. It wasn't just a political declaration, but concrete actions that helped launch and develop the project. Today, with hindsight, I can say it was the right decision – Poland has proven to be a place that can provide not only a stable business environment but also access to a vast talent pool.

To this day, we consider Poland a great place to invest. The value for money remains very favorable, but something else is crucial – it's not just about costs. Costs are an important factor, but ultimately, it's quality that counts. Polish workers are well-educated, incredibly creative, open to collaboration, and readily available on the job market. They combine technical competence with flexibility and adaptability, which is crucial in the technology industry.

It is this combination – competences, talents and a friendly business environment – ​​that makes us invest in Poland and not in other parts of the world.

The need to digitize industry

Automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence are buzzwords. Are Polish companies actually investing in these solutions, or is it still just lip service?

"Digitalization as a whole is definitely accelerating. Just a few years ago, many companies treated new technologies as an add-on—something "nice to have" but something they could postpone. Today, we see it as the absolute foundation of running a business . Every year, companies are increasingly bold in using digital tools because they know they can't compete without them."

The turning point, of course, was the Covid-19 pandemic. It was then that businesses in Poland and around the world were forced to redefine their operations overnight. Home offices, remote work, digital customer service, and process automation were no longer a matter of choice, but a requirement for survival. Many companies learned from experience that they couldn't function without digital tools , and those that invested in transformation emerged from the crisis stronger.

If we look at Industry 4.0, we can see that large enterprises are consistently investing in automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence. They are implementing predictive systems, real-time production monitoring, and digital twins that allow for testing processes before they reach the production floor. These are no longer just buzzwords—these are real implementations that are transforming the way entire industries operate.

But we also need to be realistic. Polish industry is currently under pressure from the economic crisis in Europe , especially in Germany – our main trading partner. As factories in Germany curtail production, investment budgets in Poland are also shrinking. It's natural that in such circumstances, some companies are postponing decisions on major investments.

Despite this, there are areas that are developing extremely dynamically. One of them is the Internet of Things (IoT). Just a few years ago, IoT solutions were very expensive and reserved for a select few. Today, the technology is becoming cheaper, more accessible, and easier to implement. This means that even companies with limited budgets are opting for digitization of production, machine monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated energy management.

And this is a process that can no longer be stopped. It may be slowed by a crisis or budget constraints, but in my opinion, the direction is set. Industry 4.0 is entering Poland step by step, and the scale of these changes will only grow in the coming years.

What are the biggest challenges for companies in Poland when it comes to digitalization?

"Paradoxically, the biggest barrier to digitalization isn't money. Of course, costs always matter, but the real problem is knowledge —how to implement technology so that it truly supports business processes, and not just becomes a flashy gadget that looks nice in presentations but makes little difference in practice. This is where the skills gap appears, not so much among programmers or engineers, but at the level of management and strategic thinking about technology."

A necessary change of mentality

In Poland, the mentality that everything must be done in-house still persists. Many business owners and managers believe that building their own IT teams is the only path to success. Meanwhile, the West long ago shifted to a different model – outsourcing, cloud services, and collaboration with specialized providers are more readily accepted. This doesn't mean relinquishing control, but rather wisely leveraging experience and economies of scale.

In Poland, the adoption of such models is still relatively low. Companies often undertake complex digitalization projects on their own, requiring enormous resources, knowledge, and time. This is a more difficult, expensive, and in the long run, less effective path. Achieving results can be much faster and more cost-effective by leveraging off-the-shelf solutions , proven cloud services, or the know-how of partners who have implemented similar projects for numerous clients.

In the West, this works almost automatically: a company wants to implement new technology, so it uses a specialized supplier who has been doing it for years and is familiar with all the risks. In Poland, the belief persists that "our business is unique" and everything must be adapted from scratch. This often leads to delays, budget overruns, and frustration.

If we want to accelerate digital transformation, we must change this mindset. We must understand that digitization isn't art for art's sake, but a business tool designed to deliver tangible results. And that using outsourcing or cloud services isn't a sign of weakness, but of maturity. This is precisely the direction Poland must take if it wants to catch up with the West.

What would have to happen for this model to be adopted more quickly?

Simply put, the mentality must change. It's precisely this mental barrier among business owners, managers, and often decision-makers that keeps us cautious about new technologies. Many entrepreneurs in Poland have a deeply ingrained belief that "if something is to be done right, I have to do it myself." This is a result of our economic history, in which entrepreneurship for years meant independence and a struggle for survival. But in the digital world, this approach becomes a barrier to development.

Fortunately, this mental shift is already underway. The cybersecurity market is a good example. Just a few years ago, most companies tried to protect themselves independently, employing individual administrators or creating small IT teams responsible for security. Today, a growing number of enterprises understand that this approach is simply ineffective in the face of global hackers. This is why SOC (Security Operations Center) services are growing in popularity—security operations centers that monitor the networks of multiple clients simultaneously, using advanced tools and economies of scale. This is an example of a shift in the right direction, moving away from the illusion of self-sufficiency and toward professional services.

However, it's fair to say that we still have a long way to go compared to the West. There, this approach is natural, ingrained in business culture – no one asks whether outsourcing is worth it, but rather how to best organize it. This model is still emerging in our country. Many companies still hear concerns like, "What if I lose control of my data?" or "What if the supplier doesn't understand the specifics of my business?" This shows that we have a long way to go – a road to building trust in our technology partners and management maturity.

And this is one of the key challenges for the coming years – moving from the mindset of "I'll do it myself" to the mindset of "I'll leverage the knowledge and experience of those who do this every day, for countless clients around the world." Only then will Polish businesses be able to fully leverage the potential of digital transformation and compete on equal terms with the best.