News
DNS4EU Goes Live Under Leadership of Brno’s Whalebone
June 2025 by LA REDACTION DE GS MAG
The European Union’s vision of digital sovereignty is entering a new phase with the full launch of DNS4EU, the public DNS resolver service designed to provide EU citizens with secure, privacy-centric, and reliable internet access. The service is led by Whalebone, a cybersecurity company born in the Brno region, one of Europe’s most dynamic hubs for digital innovation and cyber resilience.
Developed within a European consortium with the support of ENISA and national CERTs, DNS4EU is now fully operational and available to the public. It is the first EU-backed DNS resolver offering a secure, privacy and transparency first alternative to DNS services like Google and Cloudflare.
DNS4EU goes beyond basic resolution. It includes several components: a public resolver; DNS4GOV, a commercial-grade service designed for governments and critical infrastructure; and a threat intelligence exchange network that supports secure DNS adoption and cross-border cybersecurity coordination.
Brno: A Cybersecurity and Innovation Powerhouse
The launch of DNS4EU highlights the growing role of the Czech Republic in Europe’s cybersecurity landscape. With the center in Brno, the region is home to an active community of cybersecurity companies and a collaborative environment where research, business, and public institutions come together to develop practical solutions with international relevance.
Key research institutions such as Masaryk University and Brno University of Technology lead major European projects in cybersecurity, including QARC (Quantum-Resistant Cryptography in Practice) and CCAT (Cybersecurity Certification and Assessment Tools). Both projects were selected for funding by the European Commission under the Digital Europe Programme in 2025, confirming the region’s expertise in quantum-safe cryptography and cybersecurity certification. These universities are also founding members of the CyberSecurityHubCZ — a national competence center established in 2020 to foster collaboration between academia, business, and government.
Cybersecurity Leads the Brno Region’s Tech Economy
According to a recent data report by the JIC, cybersecurity is currently the most dynamic tech sector in the region in terms of venture capital investment. In early 2025 alone, local companies secured almost €40 million in funding — including major rounds raised by Whalebone, Threatmark, and Safetica.
Brno also has a strong track record of successful cybersecurity ventures that have grown into international players. These include the $28.4 million acquisition of Runecast and the sale of Flowmon Networks, both founded in the region. The city is also the birthplace of AVG Technologies, the Czech Republic’s first unicorn, which was acquired by Avast in 2016 and now operates globally under the name Gen.
