Introducing Critical Infrastructure Sectors: Transport
2. apríla 2026
The area of critical infrastructure in the Slovak Republic is regulated by Act No. 367/2024 Coll. on Critical Infrastructure and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, which defines individual sectors, subsectors, and essential services necessary for the functioning of the state.
The Critical Infrastructure Association of the Slovak Republic has prepared a series of expert articles aimed at gradually introducing all critical infrastructure sectors, explaining their significance, and helping organisations better understand whether and how this legislation applies to them.
Who the series is intended for:
- critical entities identified under the law,
- suppliers of technologies and services for critical infrastructure,
- professional entities providing security analyses, audits, and projects in the field of critical infrastructure,
- other legal entities operating in the field of critical infrastructure,
- entities operating in the field of cybersecurity,
- entities operating in the defence and security industry,
- the professional public in the field of security and risk management.
Transport as a Strategic Network That Keeps the State Moving
The transport sector is among the strategic areas of critical infrastructure. It ensures not only the mobility of the population but also the smooth functioning of supply chains, and fulfils logistical functions for the movement of goods, services, and information. Any disruption to transport can have an immediate impact on industry, healthcare, energy, and the supply of essential goods to the population. That is precisely why the emphasis on its security, resilience, and continuity is essential.
The central authority responsible for the exercise of state administration in this sector is the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic.
Which subsectors belong to the transport sector:
a) Civil aviation b) Railway transport c) Water transport d) Road transport e) Public transport
Each of these subsectors has specific technological, security, and operational requirements, yet all are interconnected and form a single functional system.
Which entities belong to the above subsectors:
- Air carriers in passenger and freight transport
- Airport operators and entities operating ancillary facilities located at airports
- Air traffic control operators providing air traffic control (ATC) services
- Railway infrastructure managers responsible for the operation, management, and maintenance of passenger stations, operations control centres, railway service facilities, railway traffic management systems, signalling, interlocking, and control equipment and systems, and related telecommunications equipment and systems
- Railway undertakings providing railway passenger and freight transport services
- Operators of railway service facilities
- Companies operating inland, maritime, and coastal passenger and freight transport
- Port authorities, operators of ports and port facilities (anchorages, mooring berths, transhipment points, and docking facilities) and their users
- Operators of navigation and traffic services
- Road infrastructure administrators responsible for traffic control and the passability of selected sections of road infrastructure
- Operators of intelligent transport systems
- Providers of services in the public interest in railway passenger transport and other passenger rail transport, and in road passenger transport
Why transport is critical
The importance of the transport sector lies not only in the physical movement of persons and goods. It is a complex system that connects individual regions and economic centres, enables the functioning of production and distribution chains, ensures the availability of essential goods and services, and plays a key role in crisis response.
Entities in this sector therefore bear responsibility not only for the operation of transport, but also for its protection, resilience, and ability to respond to extraordinary events.
Does this apply to your organisation?
The transport sector is not composed solely of large infrastructure enterprises. It also includes hundreds of smaller and specialised entities that ensure its day-to-day functioning. These may include, for example, suppliers of transport technologies and control systems, IT companies providing logistics and transport platforms, service and maintenance organisations, or logistics, warehousing, and distribution companies.
If your organisation operates in the transport sector or cooperates with entities in this field, it is very likely that the issue of critical infrastructure concerns you. We recommend that you become a member of the Critical Infrastructure Association of the Slovak Republic. We will be happy to provide you with expert advice, up-to-date information, and support in implementing legislative requirements and security measures.
What to expect next
In the next article, we will focus on the Finance sector, its structure, and its importance for the stability of the state. You will learn how this sector contributes to the smooth flow of financial operations and the reliable functioning of the economy.
Oblasť kritickej infraštruktúry v Slovenskej republike upravuje zákon č. 367/2024 Z. z. o kritickej infraštruktúre a o zmene a doplnení noektorých zákonov, ktorý definuje jednotlivé sektory, podsektory a základné služby nevyhnutné pre fungovanie štátu.
The Critical Infrastructure Association of the Slovak Republic has entered into negotiations on international cooperation with the Republic of India in the field of critical infrastructure protection and the development of post-quantum cryptography. This step reflects the growing importance of technological security and the need to prepare for the advent of quantum technologies, which will fundamentally impact current cryptographic standards. In this context, a significant meeting took place at the Embassy of the Republic of India in Slovakia, attended by H.E. Apoorva Srivastava, Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Slovak Republic, Rastislav Chovanec, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, and Tibor Straka, President of The Critical Infrastructure Association of the Slovak Republic. The delegation also included the Chairman of its Supervisory Board and a representative of member company Decent Cybersecurity s. r. o., Matej Michalko. The discussion focused primarily on opportunities for the development of bilateral cooperation in the areas of critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and the implementation of post-quantum cryptographic solutions. India is among the countries that systematically invest in the development of cryptography and quantum technologies. This is evidenced by its strategic initiative, the National Quantum Mission, which aims to build a comprehensive national quantum technology ecosystem. It is precisely in this area that The Critical Infrastructure Association of the Slovak Republic sees significant potential for cooperation and the involvement of Slovak technology entities. One such entity is Decent Cybersecurity s. r. o., a company with a long-standing focus on research and implementation of solutions for critical infrastructure, defence systems, and telecommunications networks. The company specialises primarily in the practical implementation of new cryptographic algorithms into modern hardware and software architectures, which makes it well-suited for participation in international post-quantum security projects. From the perspective of the Slovak Republic, cooperation with India represents a significant opportunity for the development of technological diplomacy and the strengthening of strategic partnerships. As one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the world, India plans extensive investments in quantum research and technological infrastructure. The involvement of Slovak companies in these initiatives could substantially support the export of innovative solutions and strengthen technological ties between the two countries. The aim of this initiative is to establish a stable technological partnership between Slovak and Indian institutions, overseen by The Critical Infrastructure Association of the Slovak Republic. An important role is also played by the diplomatic support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, which can significantly facilitate the establishment of contacts with relevant partners in India. This initiative also fits within the broader context of strengthening technological relations between the European Union and India. Slovakia's active involvement in this process could contribute to reinforcing its position within the European technology ecosystem and increasing its international competitiveness. At the meeting, both sides expressed a clear interest in developing mutual cooperation and identified significant potential for future joint projects. The partners agreed that the combination of expert capacities, technological innovation, and diplomatic support creates a solid foundation for a long-term strategic partnership that can deliver tangible results in the areas of security, innovative development, and economic cooperation. Both sides will continue their expert-level communication, aimed at building a stable platform for a long-term and functional partnership between India and Slovakia in the fields of critical infrastructure and post-quantum cryptography.
Asociácia kritickej infraštruktúry Slovenskej republiky vstúpila do rokovaní o medzinárodnej spolupráci s Indickou republikou v oblasti ochrany kritickej infraštruktúry a rozvoja postkvantovej kryptografie. Tento krok reflektuje rastúci význam technologickej bezpečnosti a potrebu pripraviť sa na nástup kvantových technológií, ktoré zásadne ovplyvnia súčasné kryptografické štandardy. V tejto súvislosti sa na pôde Veľvyslanectva Indickej republiky na Slovensku uskutočnilo významné stretnutie za účasti J.E. Apoorva Srivastava, veľvyslankyne Indickej republiky v Slovenskej republike, štátneho tajomníka Ministerstva zahraničných vecí a európskych záležitostí Slovenskej republiky Rastislava Chovanca a prezidenta Asociácie kritickej infraštruktúry Slovenskej republiky Tibora Straku . Súčasťou delegácie AKI SR bol aj predseda jej dozornej rady a zástupca členskej spoločnosti Decent Cybersecurity s. r. o. Matej Michalko. Diskusia sa zamerala najmä na možnosti rozvoja bilaterálnej spolupráce v oblasti kritickej infraštruktúry, kybernetickej bezpečnosti a implementácie postkvantových kryptografických riešení. India patrí medzi krajiny, ktoré systematicky investujú do rozvoja kryptografie a kvantových technológií. Dôkazom je aj jej strategická iniciatíva National Quantum Mission, ktorej cieľom je vybudovať komplexný národný ekosystém kvantových technológií. Práve v tejto oblasti vidí AKI SR významný priestor pre spoluprácu a zapojenie slovenských technologických subjektov. Jedným z nich je spoločnosť Decent Cybersecurity s. r. o. , ktorá sa dlhodobo venuje výskumu a implementácii riešení pre kritickú infraštruktúru, obranné systémy a telekomunikačné siete. Spoločnosť sa špecializuje najmä na praktickú implementáciu nových kryptografických algoritmov do moderných hardvérových a softvérových architektúr, čo ju predurčuje na zapojenie do medzinárodných projektov v oblasti postkvantovej bezpečnosti. Z pohľadu Slovenskej republiky predstavuje spolupráca s Indiou významnú príležitosť pre rozvoj technologickej diplomacie a posilnenie strategických partnerstiev. India ako jedna z najrýchlejšie rastúcich digitálnych ekonomík sveta plánuje rozsiahle investície do kvantového výskumu a technologickej infraštruktúry. Zapojenie slovenských spoločností do týchto iniciatív by mohlo výrazne podporiť export inovatívnych riešení a posilniť technologické väzby medzi oboma krajinami. Cieľom iniciatívy je vytvorenie stabilného technologického partnerstva medzi slovenskými a indickými inštitúciami, ktoré bude zastrešovať Asociácia kritickej infraštruktúry Slovenskej republiky. Dôležitú úlohu pritom zohráva aj diplomatická podpora Ministerstva zahraničných vecí a európskych záležitostí SR, ktorá môže výrazne napomôcť pri nadväzovaní kontaktov s relevantnými partnermi v Indii. Táto iniciatíva zároveň zapadá do širšieho kontextu posilňovania technologických vzťahov medzi Európskou úniou a Indiou. Aktívne zapojenie Slovenska do tohto procesu by mohlo prispieť k posilneniu jeho pozície v rámci európskeho technologického ekosystému a zvýšiť jeho medzinárodnú konkurencieschopnosť. Na stretnutí obe strany vyjadrili jasný záujem o rozvoj vzájomnej spolupráce a identifikovali významný potenciál pre budúce spoločné projekty. Partneri sa zhodli, že prepojenie odborných kapacít, technologických inovácií a diplomatickej podpory vytvára pevný základ pre dlhodobé strategické partnerstvo, ktoré môže priniesť konkrétne výsledky v oblasti bezpečnosti, inovatívneho rozvoja a ekonomickej spolupráce. Obe strany budú pokračovať v odbornej komunikácii, smerujúcej k vybudovaniu stabilnej platformy pre dlhodobé a funkčné partnerstvo Indie a Slovenska v oblasti kritickej infraštruktúry a postkvantovej kryptografie.
For most people, GPS (Global Positioning System) is synonymous with car or smartphone navigation. It helps us find our way, avoid traffic jams, and discover new places. However, very few realise that the Global Positioning System provides precise time and location data upon which the functioning of modern society depends.
Pre väčšinu ľudí je GPS (Global Positioning System) synonymom navigácie v aute alebo v mobile. Pomáha nám nájsť cestu, vyhnúť sa zápcham či objaviť nové miesta. Len málokto si však uvedomuje, že globálny satelitný systém určovania polohy (GPS) poskytuje údaje o presnom čase a presnej polohe, na ktorých stojí fungovanie modernej spoločnosti.
The area of critical infrastructure in the Slovak Republic is regulated by Act No. 367/2024 Coll. on Critical Infrastructure and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, which defines individual sectors, subsectors, and essential services of critical infrastructure.
Oblasť kritickej infraštruktúry v Slovenskej republike je upravená zákonom č. 367/2024 Z. z. o kritickej infraštruktúre a o zmene a doplnení niektorých zákonov, ktorý definuje jednotlivé sektory, podsektory a základné služby kritickej infraštruktúry .
Europe faces growing pressure on its critical infrastructure. Attacks that often lack a clear perpetrator or a single obvious motive are becoming tools for state destabilization. Without borders and without warning.
Európa čelí rastúcemu tlaku na kritickú infraštruktúru. Útoky, ktoré často nemajú jasného pôvodcu ani jednoznačný dôvod, sa stávajú nástrojom destabilizácie štátov. Bez hraníc a bez varovania.
Why it’s not just about power plants and pipelines, and why critical infrastructure concerns every one of us.