The press release notes that cyber crime is growing into the most significant type of criminal activity, causing companies an estimated annual USD 1,000 billion damages globally.

Zala joins EY Hungary from the Hungarian State Treasury, where he worked as a ministerial commissioner responsible for overseeing the organization’s IT systems.

With decades of experience in the field, including involvement in the establishment of the countryʼs Cyber Defense Management Authority, Zala is joining the company in the wake of increasing demand for the protection and appropriate handling of big data, an area now targeted by cyber criminals, the press release said.

Globally, EY works together with 2,000 cyber security professionals. With its continuously expanding Budapest office, the firm is planning to create a Central European center for cyber security, serving domestic, regional and global partners, the company said.