The 10th European Cyber Security Conference

This conference has now taken place. We are very pleased with how the event went and the positive feedback we have received so far. We were delighted to have welcomed 219 participants throughout the day. We will be sharing the 10th Anniversary highlight video and a recording of the conference sessions soon. 

Event Overview

The European Cyber Security Conference returned to Brussels this March for its 10th Edition! Gathering leading policy-makers, industry players, high level cyber security and defence experts, this Forum Europe conference, organised in partnership with the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), explored Europe’s response to cyber security issues in a dynamically evolving global risk landscape and what the next steps for all actors of the ecosystem should be to create a safe and secure environment allowing Europe to leverage the tremendous socio-economic benefits offered by digital technologies.

Key discussions

European Cyber Security, Resilience and Strategic Autonomy

People, Tech and Processes for Cyber Security

Aligning Cyber Security Efforts to Protect Critical Infrastructures

Harnessing Tech and Cooperation for Cyber Defence

Confirmed Speakers

Margaritis Schinas

Margaritis Schinas

Vice President, Promoting our European Way of Life

European Commission

Victor_Zhora

Viktor Zhora

Deputy Chairman and Chief Digital Transformation Officer

State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine

James Appathurai

James Appathurai

Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges

NATO

Christiane Kirketerp de Viron

Christiane Kirketerp de Viron

Head of Unit Cybersecurity and Digital Privacy Policy, DG CONNECT

European Commission

Marina Kaljurand

Marina Kaljurand

Member

European Parliament

Miguel Angel Amutio Gómez

Miguel Angel Amutio Gómez

Deputy Director General for Cybersecurity Planning and Coordination

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Spain

André Erich Denk

André Erich Denk

Deputy Chief Executive

European Defence Agency

Liesyl Franz

Liesyl Franz

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cyberspace Security, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy

U.S. Department of State

Tarja Fernández

Tarja Fernández

Ambassador for Cyber Affairs

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

José Carlos Delgado Gómez

José Carlos Delgado Gómez

Cybersecurity Attaché

Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU

Jurriën Norder

Jurriën Norder

Senior Advisor International Relations

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

Manon Le Blanc

Manon Le Blanc

Head of Sector, Cyber Security

EEAS

Domenico Ferrara 240 TRP

Domenico Ferrara

Cybersecurity Officer

ENISA

Anne Mennens

Ann Mennens

Cyber Aware Programme Manager DG DIGIT

European Commission

Getter Oper

Getter Oper

Policy Officer, Defence Technologies, DG DEFIS

European Commission

Yiannis Pavlosoglou

Yiannis Pavlosoglou

Chairperson Compensation/CEO Succession Committee Chair

(ISC)²

Rigo Van den Broeck

Rigo Van den Broeck

Executive Vice President, Cyber Security Product Innovation

Mastercard

Royal Hansen

Royal Hansen

VP of Privacy, Safety and Security Engineering

Google

Giacomo Speretta

Giacomo Speretta

SVP Marketing and International Business

Leonardo Spa - Cyber & Security Solutions Division

John Fokker

John Fokker

Head of Threat Intelligence & Principal Engineer

Trellix

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Florian Pennings

Director EU Government Affairs – Cybersecurity

Microsoft

Hadrien Valembois

Hadrien Valembois

Senior Manager, Policy - EMEA

BSA | The Software Alliance

Luigi Rebuffi

Luigi Rebuffi

Secretary General

ECSO

Paul Adamson

Paul Adamson

Partner & Chairman

Forum Europe

Visiola Pula

Visiola Pula

Cybersecurity Senior Analyst

Cullen International

Iva Tasheva

Iva Tasheva

Co-Founder & Cyber Security Lead

CYEN SCS

Friederike Berfelde

Friederike Berfelde

Associate

Brunswick Group

Raluca Csernatoni

Raluca​ Csernatoni

Fellow

Carnegie Europe

Agenda

*** Times are listed in CET ***

The 10th Annual European Cybersecurity Conference
2023-03-23
09:00 - 09:40
Keynote Session | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe
Keynote Session | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe image
Margaritis Schinas
Vice President, Promoting our European Way of Life, European Commission
Keynote Session | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe image
Viktor Zhora
Deputy Chairman and Chief Digital Transformation Officer, State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine
Keynote Session | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe image
Paul Adamson
Partner & Chairman, Forum Europe
09:40 - 11:10
Panel 1 | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe: How do the EU’s policies and strategic autonomy ambitions fit in an ever-changing cyber risk landscape?

The EU’s cybersecurity policy agenda has steadily advanced in the past decade. Russia’s war on Ukraine has demonstrated the need for an up-to-date, future-proof regulatory framework that prepares Europe for an ever-growing threat landscape, reinforces the EU’s industrial and technological capacities to reduce dependencies, enhances its strategic autonomy, and drives its leadership in cybersecurity forward. Accelerating the implementation of NIS2 and CER to protect our critical infrastructure is now deemed paramount. Several legislative files and projects aiming to complement the EU Cybersecurity framework are currently in the making. This session will ask if the latest cyber security initiatives that aim to increase trust and security in essential products and services, such as the CRA, the EUCS and other certification and standardisation schemes, are truly fit-for-purpose, and the extent to which they will fulfil the ambition of creating a robust cyber security landscape in which a thriving European cybersecurity market can be developed, allowing the region to become a global leader in this area and supporting its drive for strategic autonomy in the digital domain.

 

Possible questions:

 

  • To what extent does the European cybersecurity policy framework reflect the rapidly expanding cyber threat landscape? What is being done to ensure that the new proposed files and cybersecurity certifications initiatives remain aligned with NIS2 and other relevant existing legislations and schemes and address the emergence of future technologies?
  • What is the latest on the Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for Cloud Services (EUCS) and on the sovereignty requirements on European data localisation and foreign law immunity that have been proposed? How will the three levels of assurance suggested be established, and how can it be ensured that fair competition and trade are not restricted? With this voluntary certification scheme expected to become mandatory, what does this mean for companies involved in cloud service deliveries, including SMEs?
  • To what extent will the provisions of the proposed CRA, meant to address vulnerabilities in digital products and associated services through a security-by-design approach, help enhance the security of the entire cyber ecosystem in Europe? What does security by design look like in practice? What new opportunities, and challenges, do the proposed obligations for businesses bring, and how can it be ensured that the Act does not impede the roll-out of future technologies and services in Europe? How can companies prepare now, and should further sectoral legislation be proposed to complement the provisions of the CRA?
  • How will the latest policies interact with global standards and accepted certifications from internationally accredited bodies? To what extent can the European cybersecurity framework become an international point of reference, setting cybersecurity as a competitive advantage, and enhancing security levels globally?
Panel 1 | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe: How do the EU’s policies and strategic autonomy ambitions fit in an ever-changing cyber risk landscape? image
Christiane Kirketerp de Viron
Head of Unit Cybersecurity and Digital Privacy Policy, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Panel 1 | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe: How do the EU’s policies and strategic autonomy ambitions fit in an ever-changing cyber risk landscape? image
Miguel Angel Amutio Gómez
Deputy Director General for Cybersecurity Planning and Coordination, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Spain
Panel 1 | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe: How do the EU’s policies and strategic autonomy ambitions fit in an ever-changing cyber risk landscape? image
Hadrien Valembois
Senior Manager, Policy - EMEA, BSA | The Software Alliance
Panel 1 | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe: How do the EU’s policies and strategic autonomy ambitions fit in an ever-changing cyber risk landscape? image
Luigi Rebuffi
Secretary General and Founder, ECSO
Panel 1 | Reinforcing cybersecurity and resilience in Europe: How do the EU’s policies and strategic autonomy ambitions fit in an ever-changing cyber risk landscape? image
Visiola Pula
Cybersecurity Senior Analyst , Cullen International
11:10 - 11:40
Morning Coffee Break
11:40 - 13:00
Panel 2 | Achieving the trifecta of successful cybersecurity governance: Improving human expertise, digital tech and operations in Europe

As the cyber threat landscape will continue to evolve more rapidly than legislations regulating the space, it is paramount that organisations across Europe develop holistic approaches to cyber security, combining digital technologies with human skills, systems and processes, to prepare and protect themselves against the latest and most sophisticated threats.  This session will explore how such integrated approaches look in practice and will discuss what information security management systems and governance frameworks need to be put in place to successfully leverage the role that technology such as AI, ML, ‘digital twins’, blockchain and quantum can play when combined with human expertise. Speakers will debate what is needed for such layered processes to become more mainstream across operations in European organisations when it is recognised that the considerable shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals and low levels of investment across the bloc dampens current efforts to increase cyber resilience.

 

Possible questions:

 

  • How does the use of technologies such as AI and ML bolster cyber security and augment the work of cyber security individuals? How will they, in practice, make SOCs more efficient? What cybersecurity considerations must be given regarding the increased use of Edge Computing within organisations?
  • How can a strong culture of cybersecurity within an organisation be built? What can be learnt from entities achieving systematic cyber preparedness and resilience through cyber-risk governance and management? What are the benefits of strategic frameworks such as the Zero-Trust model and Vulnerability Disclosure Policy for an organisation’s cyber resilience?
  • How can the target of reaching 20 million ICT workers by 2030, outlined in the ‘Path to the Digital Decade’, be achieved? How can the training, upskilling and re-skilling of the current workforce in cyber security, cyber awareness and hygiene be further supported? What is being done to encourage organisations to focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and investment in early talent through their cybersecurity recruiting programmes? How can the Cyber Skills Academy, expected to be launched in 2023, concretely address these issues?
Panel 2 | Achieving the trifecta of successful cybersecurity governance: Improving human expertise, digital tech and operations in Europe image
Ann Mennens
Cyber Aware Programme Manager, DG DIGIT, European Commission
Panel 2 | Achieving the trifecta of successful cybersecurity governance: Improving human expertise, digital tech and operations in Europe image
Jurriën Norder
Senior Advisor International Relations, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
Panel 2 | Achieving the trifecta of successful cybersecurity governance: Improving human expertise, digital tech and operations in Europe image
Florian Pennings
Director EU Government Affairs – Cybersecurity, Microsoft
Panel 2 | Achieving the trifecta of successful cybersecurity governance: Improving human expertise, digital tech and operations in Europe image
Yiannis Pavlosoglou
Chairperson, Compensation/CEO Succession Committee Chair, (ISC)²
Panel 2 | Achieving the trifecta of successful cybersecurity governance: Improving human expertise, digital tech and operations in Europe image
José Carlos Delgado Gómez
Cybersecurity Attaché, Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU
Panel 2 | Achieving the trifecta of successful cybersecurity governance: Improving human expertise, digital tech and operations in Europe image
Domenico Ferrara
Cybersecurity Officer, ENISA
Panel 2 | Achieving the trifecta of successful cybersecurity governance: Improving human expertise, digital tech and operations in Europe image
Friederike Berfelde
Friederike Berfelde, Associate, Brunswick Group
13:00 - 14:15
Networking Lunch
14:15 - 15:35
Panel 3 | Protecting Critical Infrastructures: European and global cyber security efforts in a geopolitically volatile world

The digital space has increasingly become a ground for cyber and hybrid attacks led by state and non-state actors exploiting the open nature of the internet, targeting critical infrastructures globally, spreading disinformation campaigns, or conducting cyber sabotage and espionage. These trends have accelerated since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine. and have emphasised the urgent need to strengthen the resilience of cyberspace and critical infrastructures around the world. While the EU has stepped up its regulatory efforts in the past years to boost cyber security, protect critical infrastructures, and enhance the security of supply chain, digital products and services within the bloc, these initiatives must remain coherent and complimentary with similar schemes being developed on regional and global levels, as well as with international standards and norms. This session will explore how collaborative global efforts of like-minded partners and a multistakeholder approach can be enhanced to boost the resilience and security of a trusted, borderless cyberspace. It will discuss whether the systems currently in place to build global partnerships around shared understandings of cyber risks, capacity building, information sharing, and coordination on cyber threats detection and response are fit-for-purpose and what more is needed given the global dimension of cyber threats, the rapid emergence of new technologies and the various regional and national digital sovereignty approaches that are surfacing worldwide.

 

Possible questions:

 

  • How has cooperation between the EU and allies on cybersecurity issues changed since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine? How successfully is the EU working with international partners, and how effective have attempts to develop a global cyber security approach been? What might a global rules-based system for cyber security look like, and how could this be achieved when different, and sometimes competing, visions over digital governance keep emerging worldwide?
  • As most critical infrastructure is owned and operated by private companies, how can cooperation between the private sector and governments be improved to enhance the resilience of such infrastructure? What is needed to deepen international cooperation to ensure the integrity of the ICT supply chain?
  • How can threat information-sharing and confidence-building measures at the global level be improved?
  • To what extent will the EU External Cyber Capacity Building Agenda enhance third countries’ cyber resilience and capacities?
  • As provisions to strengthen the EU Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox are expected in 2023, what more should be included to prevent and respond more effectively to cyber threats and improve attribution capabilities? To what extent can the sanctions regime be enhanced?
Panel 3 | Protecting Critical Infrastructures: European and global cyber security efforts in a geopolitically volatile world image
Manon Le Blanc
Head of Sector, Cyber Security, EEAS
Panel 3 | Protecting Critical Infrastructures: European and global cyber security efforts in a geopolitically volatile world image
Marina Kaljurand
Member, European Parliament
Panel 3 | Protecting Critical Infrastructures: European and global cyber security efforts in a geopolitically volatile world image
Royal Hansen
VP of Privacy, Safety and Security Engineering, Google
Panel 3 | Protecting Critical Infrastructures: European and global cyber security efforts in a geopolitically volatile world image
John Fokker
Head of Threat Intelligence & Principal Engineer, Trellix
Panel 3 | Protecting Critical Infrastructures: European and global cyber security efforts in a geopolitically volatile world image
Liesyl Franz
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cyberspace Security, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, U.S. Department of State
Panel 3 | Protecting Critical Infrastructures: European and global cyber security efforts in a geopolitically volatile world image
Iva Tasheva
Co-Founder & Cyber Security Lead, CYEN SCS
15:35 - 16:00
Coffee Break
16:00 - 17:30
Panel 4 | Strengthening the European Cyber Defence capacity through Tech & Cooperation

Today’s geopolitical context and the recent cyber-attacks on space, transport and energy infrastructures on which both the civilian and military realms rely further underline how central the cyber dimension can become in military conflicts. To address the need for better protection, detection, deterrence, and defence against a growing number of cyber threats, the European Cyber Defence Policy was recently released to boost the EU’s cyber defence capacity and bolster cooperation between the civilian and military cyber communities as well as between the public and private sectors. From the improvement of information exchange and early detection of cyber threats via a network of SOCs powered by AI, the development of state-of-the-art cyber defence capabilities through the creation of a technology roadmap for critical cyber technologies to the promotion of the use of emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs) to inform future military strategies and operations, digital technologies are at the very heart of the European Cyber Defence Policy.  This session will discuss how the benefits of digital tech can be best harnessed so that the goals outlined in the European Cyber Defence Policy can be achieved – considering that the EU cyber defence sector currently relies significantly on civilian solutions and external markets and explore the extent to which the EU’s proposed approach to cyber defence will be enough to keep pace with ever-growing sophisticated cyber threats.

 

Possible questions:

 

  • How can coordination mechanisms among national and EU cyber defence actors, between military and civilian cyber communities and between the private and public sectors be enhanced considering the existing shape of the cyber defence industrial ecosystem?
  • What more can be done to capitalise on the role tech, including EDTs, can fully play in cyber defence? How can the existing gaps for specific military cybersecurity requirements be fulfilled to contribute to better detection and response to threats?
  • How will it be ensured that the technology roadmap for critical cyber technologies expected in 2023 truly addresses the technology needs of the EU cyber defence sector and reduce technological dependencies without stifling innovation? How will this roadmap interact with the CRA? Is an EU cybersecurity certification scheme for companies providing services to the defence industry needed?
  • How is the new EU Cyber Defence Policy connected to the recent work on protecting critical infrastructure? How will the need for cooperation between the civilian and military sectors be addressed to develop standards for dual-use digital and cyber security products?
  • In the context of cyber defence, how will establishing the EU-wide Cyber Shield through a cross-border network of AI-powered SOCs and creating an EU Cyber Solidarity Initiative truly work in practice? How will the shield complement the work of existing SOCs and CSIRTs/CERTs? What conditions will be met for private cybersecurity companies to be considered a ‘trusted private provider’ forming the EU-level cyber reserve? How will it be possible for European SMEs working in the field of security and defence to be included?
  • Are the proposed research and investment instruments enough to turn all these objectives into reality, considering the budgetary constraints that the EU currently faces?
Panel 4 | Strengthening the European Cyber Defence capacity through Tech & Cooperation image
André Erich Denk
Deputy Chief Executive, European Defence Agency
Panel 4 | Strengthening the European Cyber Defence capacity through Tech & Cooperation image
James Appathurai
Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, NATO
Panel 4 | Strengthening the European Cyber Defence capacity through Tech & Cooperation image
Rigo Van den Broeck
Executive Vice President, Cyber Security Product Innovation, Mastercard
Panel 4 | Strengthening the European Cyber Defence capacity through Tech & Cooperation image
Getter Oper
Policy Officer, Defence Technologies, DG DEFIS, European Commission
Panel 4 | Strengthening the European Cyber Defence capacity through Tech & Cooperation image
Tarja Fernández
Ambassador for Cyber Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Panel 4 | Strengthening the European Cyber Defence capacity through Tech & Cooperation image
Giacomo Speretta
Senior Vice President Marketing International Business of Cyber & Security Division
Panel 4 | Strengthening the European Cyber Defence capacity through Tech & Cooperation image
Raluca​ Csernatoni
Fellow, Carnegie Europe
17:30
End of Conference
Select date to see events.

Sponsorship opportunities

Our packages have been designed to enable sponsors to take advantage of the enhanced face-to-face networking benefits that are made possible by a physical meeting environment.

To discuss sponsorship and visibility opportunities at the 10th Annual European Cyber Security Conference, please contact Anne-Lise Simon on [email protected] / +44 (0) 2920 783 023.

Why sponsor the European Cyber Security Conference?

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Exclusive speaking positions | Your organisation can contribute to the discussion in person. 

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Engaging and Interactive format | Engage in a fully immersive and interactive debate with decision makers, businesses and policymakers, either onsite or online

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European and global outreach | Convey your message to a broad and international audience

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Networking opportunities |  Networking opportunities will be available to all in person attendees throughout the day.

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Visibility Opportunities | Ensure maximum visibility through branding on the event website and marketing activities

Partners & Sponsors

ECSO logo for WS
BSA for WS
Google WS logo
ISC2 logo
Leonardo
Mastercard
MSFT logo for ws
Trellix
Encompass logo for WS

Venue

Stanhope Hotel, Brussels
Balmoral Room
Rue du Commerce 9, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

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Contact

Should you need any further assistance regarding this event, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will happily help.

Karolina Stankiewicz
Event Manager
Forum Europe
[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0) 2920 783 070