PhD. Candidat.

Gani Zogaj

Personal Information

Gani Zogaj was born on February 23, 1976, in Kaliqan, Istog, Kosovo. He is a Kosovar national and currently resides in Prishtina. Professionally, he is based at the Rilindja Building, Office 204, in the capital city. Gani is multilingual, with native proficiency in Albanian and a strong command of English (C2 listening and reading; B2 speaking and writing), along with basic German (A1).

Professional Summary

Gani Zogaj is a seasoned expert in cybersecurity, information technology, and academic instruction with over two decades of experience in public sector ICT leadership and university-level teaching. He currently serves in dual roles: as the Head of the Directorate for IT Security and Operation Center within the Kosovo Government and as a University Literature Lecturer in cybersecurity disciplines. His extensive career includes hands-on technical administration, national-level policy development, and significant contributions to cybersecurity education and infrastructure.

Work Experience

Head of Directorate for IT Security and Operation Center

Agency of Information Society, Ministry of Internal Affairs – Kosovo Government, Prishtina
2014 – Present

Gani leads cybersecurity operations and IT infrastructure management for the Kosovo Government, overseeing national systems including Exchange Servers, Cisco ASA Firewalls, DNS, DHCP, and wireless LANs. He drafts and enforces national cybersecurity policies, manages the state electronic data center, and coordinates the Government CERT team. His responsibilities encompass data protection, incident response, cybercrime prevention, and compliance with ISO/IEC standards.

Head of Division of Security and Central Operations (DSCO)

Ministry of Public Services, Kosovo Government – Prishtina
2008 – 2014

He was responsible for the strategic planning and administration of network infrastructure and cybersecurity across multiple government sectors. His duties included backup server administration, performance management, compliance, and staff supervision. He also managed critical IT projects and served as a coordinator for IT officers.

ICT System Administrator

Ministry of Public Services, Kosovo Government – Prishtina
2004 – 2008

Gani handled daily IT administration duties, including operation and maintenance of network infrastructure, data center components, Exchange Servers, and Cisco firewalls. He provided technical support, planned networks, and executed hardware/software deployments across multiple locations.

Academic Experience

University Literature Lecturer in Cybersecurity

AAB College – Prishtina, Kosovo
2021 – Present

As a university lecturer, Gani teaches courses related to ethical hacking, penetration testing, and incident response. His role includes designing course curricula, supervising labs, mentoring students, and integrating certifications such as CEH and OSCP into the academic environment. He frequently updates teaching materials to reflect current trends, supervises Capture the Flag (CTF) student activities, and collaborates with industry experts.

Education

PhD Candidate in Computer Science

South East European University – Tetovo, North Macedonia
2021 – Present
Faculty of Contemporary Sciences and Technologies

Master of Science (MSc)

American University in Kosovo / Rochester Institute of Technology – Prishtina, Kosovo
2009 – 2012

Graduate Electrical Engineer

University of Prishtina – Prishtina, Kosovo
2004
Specialization: Computer and Telecommunications Engineering
Final Grade: Graduate Electrical Engineer
Credits Earned: 300 ECTS

Certifications & Professional Training

• CCNA – Cisco Certified Network Associate (2020)
• CCNP – Cisco Certified Network Professional
• EC-Council Certified Security Analyst v10 (2021)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) (2021)
• ISO/IEC 27001 Foundation (2021)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) – Austria
• Implementing Cisco Control Solutions (SITCS) 1.5 – Netherlands (2019)
• Train the Trainer – WIFI-WKO – Austria
• Estonian e-Governance and ICT Policy Training – Estonia
• Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
• Train the Trainer on Cyber Hygiene – TAG International, London (2024)
• Digital and Online Privacy for Policy Makers – Carnegie Mellon University, USA (October 2024)
• 301 Administration Fundamentals – LogRhythm, Skopje (2023)
• IBM FlashSystem Implementation – COMPEDU, Slovenia (2025)
• HPE Synergy Management Workshop – LAI, Netherlands (2025)

Skills

• Technical Skills: Network administration, cybersecurity tools (Kali Linux, Metasploit, Splunk, etc.), Cisco firewall configuration, server management
• Soft Skills: Team leadership, communication, academic mentorship, analytical thinking, project coordination
• Tools: Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, Skype, Outlook, Google Workspace

Languages

• Albanian – Native
• English – Proficient (C2 Listening & Reading, B2 Speaking & Writing)
• German – Basic (A1 across all skills)

Publications

• 2025:
  Gani Zogaj., Ismaili, F., Luma, A., & Gashi, L.
  “Virtualization’s Impact on Cybersecurity and the Development of an Accurate Model for Assessing and Detecting Vulnerabilities: A Systematic Literature Review.”
  Published in the 14th Mediterranean Conference on Embedded Computing (MECO 2025), IEEE.
  View Publication
• 2012:
  “Virtualization and Shared Infrastructure Data Storage for IT in Kosovo Institutions.”

Projects & Engagements

• 2021–2024: Member of Kosovo Government’s Expert Group for the Critical Infrastructure Digitalization and Resilience (CIDR) Program
• 2014: Contributor to World Bank Government Data Center Project as part of Kosovo Government’s expert group

Study Visits and Conferences

1. Visited France as part of an Albanian and Kosovar delegation led by the Albanian Deputy Minister of the Interior and the Albanian Deputy Minister of Health on the theme of Forensic Science, from May 26 to 29, 2025.
2. Participated in the Cybersecurity Capacity Building in the Western Balkans study visit organized by the European Commission, exploring NÚKIB’s structure and approaches to cybersecurity cooperation at both national and international levels, held on March 20-21, 2025, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / GenDigital, Prague, Czech Republic.
3. Attended the Prague Cybersecurity Conference on March 18-19, 2025, in Prague, Czech Republic. More information on the program is available at Prague Cybersecurity Conference.
4. Participated in the Second Workshop on Cybersecurity Legislation and Governance in the Western Balkans, held at Hotel Marriot, Skopje, North Macedonia, November 5-7, 2023. This was part of the EU-funded Cyber Balkans project aimed at enhancing cyber resilience of Western Balkan IPA III beneficiaries.
5. Attended the SEI Technical Exchange and Training, the annual FIRST CTI Conference and SEI European Working Group Meeting in Berlin, Germany, April 15-18, 2024. Participation was sponsored by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) and the U.S. Department of State’s Cyber and Digital Policy Bureau.
6. Participated in the Regional Meeting on Cybersecurity Needs in the Western Balkans Six, held on April 2-3, 2025, in Tirana, Albania, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and IISG.
7. Took part in Bilateral Consultation Meetings on Cybersecurity Database in Belgrade, Skopje, Prishtina, Tirana, Podgorica, and Sarajevo, organized by RCC from January 27 to February 6, 2025, focusing on identifying cybersecurity needs at economic and regional levels.
8. Attended the Workshop on Reflections on the Implementation of ECHA’s Integrated Regulatory Strategy on March 6, 2024, at ECHA, Helsinki, Finland.