Mastercard’s new European cyber resilience hub signals a shift towards proactive, collaborative threat intelligence

Mastercard has launched a European Cyber Resilience Centre and advanced educational initiatives, aiming to bolster collective cyber defence and protect Europe’s digital economy amid rising sophisticated cyber threats.

The evolving landscape of cyber threats demands urgent adaptability, collaboration, and innovation from organisations worldwide. In an exclusive interview, Tina Mirceta, Senior Managing Consultant for Security Services in Southeast Europe at Mastercard, outlines how rapidly shifting cyber risks require proactive approaches to safeguard digital economies and foster trust among consumers and businesses.

Mirceta highlights that cybercrime has grown far more sophisticated and interconnected, transitioning from isolated incidents to extensive operations such as ransomware-as-a-service and AI-powered phishing. These developments have exponentially increased the complexity of fraud and threat detection, pressing organisations to maintain comprehensive visibility and resilience across complex ecosystems with numerous third-party interactions. According to Mastercard’s data, global cybercrime costs could reach $15.6 trillion by 2029, underscoring the financial and operational risks organisations face. Mastercard’s strategy integrates advanced fraud intelligence, AI monitoring, and continuous education, aiming to stay ahead of emerging threats while reinforcing trust in digital commerce.

To counteract rising cybercrime sophistication, Mastercard employs a multilayered defence system utilising real-time intelligence, behavioural analytics, and AI-driven detection to pre-emptively intervene. The company’s acquisition of Recorded Future, the largest enterprise security intelligence platform, further enhances its capabilities in recognising threats early by analysing millions of data sources. Mirceta stresses, however, that technology alone is insufficient; Mastercard actively promotes education and collaboration across banks, fintechs, law enforcement, and governments to raise awareness and fortify collective cyber resilience. The goal is to make security a seamless part of every digital interaction, encouraging innovation without compromising safety.

A landmark of Mastercard’s efforts is the European Cyber Resilience Centre, launched in 2024 in Belgium. This centre unites experts from over 20 Mastercard teams, including the Fusion Centre for incident response and a dedicated Digital Forensics Lab, alongside national cyber intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and industry partners. The centre fosters real-time intelligence sharing and coordinated responses, thereby enhancing the ability of connected organisations to detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber threats swiftly. This collaborative ecosystem exemplifies Mastercard’s commitment to making every digital transaction secure and trustworthy, contributing directly to economic empowerment.

Recognising the vulnerability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an increasingly digitalised economy, Mastercard’s Strive EU program integrates cybersecurity as a foundational pillar. Earlier in 2025, a Bucharest-based bootcamp gathered Romanian SMEs and mentors to merge digital innovation with robust cybersecurity practices. Two startups secured €75,000 grants and mentorship focusing on AI-driven, secure financial solutions tailored to small businesses. This initiative reflects Mastercard’s broader objective to empower millions of SMEs across Europe, equipping them to adopt emerging technologies safely and build resilience amidst evolving cyber threats.

Further addressing SME challenges, Mastercard has launched a free cybersecurity education program aiming to reach over 10 million European SMEs. This initiative delivers awareness, education, and practical tools, encouraging businesses to incorporate cybersecurity into daily operations proactively. Simultaneously, a lighthouse innovation program in Belgium accelerates startup-led solutions designed for SME cyber resilience. These efforts underscore Mastercard’s recognition of SMEs as the backbone of Europe’s economy and the necessity of equipping them to withstand sophisticated cyberattacks.

Alongside these programmes, Mastercard’s engagement with the broader cybersecurity community fortifies its vision of digital trust, the invisible yet essential confidence underpinning every digital transaction and data exchange. Mirceta defines digital trust as a synergy of security, privacy, transparency, and system integrity, reinforced by giving users control over their data. Mastercard’s ongoing investments, totaling over €9 billion globally since 2018, include building three new data centres in France and expanding cybersecurity teams, including a dedicated group in Ukraine. These investments support the localisation of payment infrastructure, boosting both performance and security across Europe.

Mastercard’s partnership involvement extends to crucial collaborative frameworks, notably joining the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity’s (ENISA) Cybersecurity Partnership Programme in 2025. This initiative fosters improved threat sharing, situational awareness, and cross-border cooperation, managed centrally from Mastercard’s European Cyber Resilience Centre. Moreover, continued collaboration with Europol focuses on synchronised efforts to combat cybercrime across Europe’s financial ecosystem, combining threat forecasting with coordinated response measures.

Recognising that technological solutions alone do not suffice, Mirceta emphasises the cultivation of a cyber resilience culture within organisations. Building resilience involves embedding security awareness and responsibility across all levels of staff through ongoing education, scenario exercises, and dialogue. This cultural shift transforms cybersecurity from an isolated function into a collective priority, enabling organisations to adapt quickly to emerging risks.

Mastercard’s active presence at DefCamp 2025, a premier cybersecurity event, reflects its commitment to sharing expertise and advancing the collective defence against cyber threats. As a Platinum and VIP Lounge Partner, Mastercard seeks to fuel open dialogue on threat intelligence, AI-driven fraud prevention, and cyber resilience, fostering a trusted and innovative digital future.

In conclusion, as Tina Mirceta articulates, Mastercard’s mission hinges on robust collaboration, cutting-edge technology, and educational empowerment to build digital trust. By supporting a wide spectrum of stakeholders, from global institutions to SMEs, the company aims to help the digital economy grow securely and sustainably, ensuring innovation can truly scale in an environment of confidence and resilience.

📌 Reference Map:

• ^[1] (def.camp) – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
• ^[7] (Reuters) – Paragraph 3
• ^[6] (Mastercard Investor News) – Paragraph 4
• ^[3] (Mastercard Europe) – Paragraph 5
• ^[1], ^[3] (Mastercard) – Paragraph 6
• ^[4] (Mastercard Europe) – Paragraph 7
• ^[2] (Mastercard Europe) – Paragraph 8
• ^[5] (Mastercard Europe) – Paragraph 8
• ^[1] (def.camp) – Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

Source: Noah Wire Services