Industrial Cyber Days 2026 kicks off with virtual sessions for critical infrastructure teams
The two-day virtual event launches October 13, bringing together global experts to discuss operational technology security strategies across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas.
Key points
- Industrial Cyber Days 2026 begins on October 13 as a fully virtual event hosted by Industrial Cyber and Takepoint Research.
- The agenda features discussions on balancing compliance with resource constraints and prioritizing business outcomes over isolated asset protection.
- Sessions are scheduled across three time zones to accommodate participants from APAC, EMEA, and the Americas.
The global industrial cybersecurity community gathers on October 13 for Industrial Cyber Days 2026, a fully virtual event focused on critical infrastructure security. Hosted by Industrial Cyber in collaboration with Takepoint Research, the program spans two days and targets practitioners, engineers, security leaders, and technology providers across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas.
The event aims to help attendees navigate complex regulatory and technical landscapes to make decisive security choices before incidents occur. According to Industrial Cyber, the sector currently has an abundance of frameworks and standards, yet organizations struggle to translate these into actionable decisions. The program is designed to facilitate conversations that prioritize clarity and timely action over mere compliance.
Agenda and Regional Schedule
The virtual conference runs across three regional blocks to accommodate global time zones. The APAC session starts at 13:00 SGT on October 13, followed by the EMEA block at 11:00 CEST on the same day. The Americas session concludes the event on October 14 at 9:00 EDT. This structure ensures that professionals operating essential services can participate without disrupting their local operational hours.
Speakers for the event include utility CISOs, plant managers, sector CERT specialists, chief product security officers, government practitioners, and independent consultants. This diverse lineup reflects the reality that securing critical infrastructure requires collaboration beyond traditional cybersecurity teams. The event emphasizes that technical controls must align with broader business and operational goals to be effective.
Key Discussion Themes
The APAC program opens with a fireside chat between Justin Nga, Cybersecurity Manager at Powercor, and Jonathon Gordon, Directing Analyst at Takepoint Research. Their discussion, titled "Cyber Isn’t Always the Biggest Risk on the Table," argues that cyber risk is often a symptom of wider business and technology decisions rather than a root cause. They will explore how compliance helps but also stretches resources, and why organizations at different maturity levels cannot be held to the same pace.
A subsequent industry panel moderated by Peter Jackson of Dragos and SANS addresses the shift from fear-based narratives to tangible value. Panelists include Andrew West of Integral SCADA, Koyel Ghosh, who leads cyber, OT, and GRC in the maritime sector, and Omer Naveed, plant manager at Oursun Pakistan Ltd. The group argues that focusing narrowly on assets misses the purpose those assets serve. When an OT system stops, the impact extends to partners, customers, contractors, and downstream operations, requiring a holistic view of risk.
What should you do?
Organizations should review their current security controls to ensure they align with specific business outcomes rather than just regulatory checklists. Teams should identify which operational technologies are most critical to downstream partners and customers to prioritize protection efforts. Leaders should assess whether their security maturity matches their compliance obligations and adjust resource allocation accordingly.
What to do and how to stay safe: Industrial Cyber
- Evaluate current security frameworks to ensure they address actual business risks rather than just compliance requirements.
- Identify critical OT assets that support essential services and map their dependencies to external partners and customers.
- Review resource allocation to ensure security teams can manage controls effectively without becoming overwhelmed by volume.
- Engage with cross-functional teams, including operations and engineering, to align security strategies with operational realities.
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
When does Industrial Cyber Days 2026 start?
The event begins on October 13, with regional sessions scheduled for APAC and EMEA on that day and the Americas on October 14.
Who is hosting Industrial Cyber Days 2026?
The event is hosted by Industrial Cyber in collaboration with Takepoint Research.
Is the event in-person or virtual?
Industrial Cyber Days 2026 is a fully virtual event accessible to participants across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas.
