Rina Basholli – Bio

Rina Basholli is a highly accomplished and influential cybersecurity expert from Kosovo. Her career trajectory is marked by a strong academic foundation, holding a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Advanced Digital Forensics & Information Security from The University of Sheffield. 

As an Information Security Lead at KODE Labs, Rina spearheads the protection of cloud-based applications, ensuring compliance with key standards like ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC 2, and FedRAMP while effectively safeguarding SaaS products and helping optimize their security posture in the dynamic cyberspace.

Rina holds significant professional certifications that underscore her expertise, among which: ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and Implementer, Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI), SIEM Enterprise Security Manager, Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

Her significant contributions have earned her recognition, including the Woman Game Changer Award and a nomination for Cybersecurity Woman of the Year 2023. She’s been featured in the Global Women in Security Magazine and on Prishtina Insight, highlighting her impact in ICT. Early recognition includes winning at the STARTIFY7 Academy.

Rina is an active participant in the cybersecurity community, as evidenced by her engaging experiences at major conferences like Black Hat, where she won a drone from HP Wolf Security and received a Red Hat coin badge with the US Military Defense Units. At DEFCON, she immersed herself in village competitions, tackling challenges from lock picking to deepfakes and car hacking, even earning an aviation badge from the Aerospace Village.

Beyond her professional role, Rina is an Executive Board Member at WiCyS PLP, actively shaping cybersecurity policy. She led the BPRG group on Kosovo’s cyber legislation and was a key stakeholder in Kosovo’s 1st Cyber Security Exercise. As a sought-after public speaker, she champions cybersecurity awareness. 

From student activism to a leading voice in cybersecurity, Rina Basholli’s technical expertise, active engagement in the community, advocacy, and policy influence make her a prominent figure in the global cybersecurity community.