With various EU directives coming online over the next 12 months, what will this mean for CISO, Organisations and IT professionals? Our panel will discuss how organisations need to be compliant and how to reduce the risk of fines or warnings for the changing regulations.

Extraordinary innovation happens when we include and learn from diverse people and perspectives. Advance your talent in Cybersecurity programs and careers as we walk through fire together

Europe is setting a global benchmark for digital regulation through the EU AI Act and the Cyber Resilience Act. These new rules place cybersecurity, accountability, and transparency at the core of how organisations design and use technology… and AI. This panel will explore the governance challenges and opportunities posed by these frameworks, and how businesses can remain both compliant and resilient in a Zero Trust environment.

Discussion Points:

• What the EU AI Act and Cyber Resilience Act mean for cybersecurity strategy and product design
• Practical steps to adopt Zero Trust in line with EU regulations
• Balancing innovation, usability, and security in compliance efforts
• Managing overlapping regulatory obligations across security, AI, and data protection

• aligning with the requirements of new EU legislation
• an overview of the ever-changing geopolitical landscape and its impact on cyber security 
• the emergence of non-state actors: how to adapt the cyber security framework to successfully protect ourselves 
• why international collaboration is the key to combat global threats to our security
• protecting our critical national infrastructures
• making businesses, governments and society more resilient

James Blake, TV Presenter (BBC’s Hunting the Catfish Crime Gang) & Entrepreneur shares his extraordinary journey into the dark world of online identity theft. After discovering that his name and image were being used in global romance scams, James embarked on a multi-year investigation that exposed a sophisticated criminal network linked to human trafficking and organised fraud. Through first-hand accounts, exclusive insights from his documentary work, and a raw look at the personal and professional toll of identity fraud, James sheds light on the real-world impact of cybercrime. This session offers cybersecurity professionals a unique perspective on the human side of online scams – from the vulnerabilities that make them possible to the international scale of their operations. James’ story acts as a cautionary tale and a call to action for greater vigilance, collaboration, and ethical responsibility in the fight against cyber-enabled exploitation.

Do you think we as a nation are ready to defend ourselves against a large-scale cyber-attack from an external entity?

On this panel we will discuss what is currently being done to protect Irish infrastructure and businesses against the ever-increasing threat of international hackers. Is this enough and what should we be doing to strengthen our protection. The panel will also discuss Ireland’s National Cyber Security Strategy and the potential impact that not taking these threats seriously could have on foreign direct investment.

Asserting the imperative of strategic leadership, Dwyer presents a clear, actionable blueprint for navigating the complex terrain of cyber risk management. Underlining the recent European Union legislation, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) illuminates the integral role of management boards in spearheading ICT security strategies. DORA cements the fact that business leaders aren’t just spectators but are now fully responsible and accountable for mitigating cyber risks within their organisations.

Do you think we as a nation are ready to defend ourselves against a large-scale cyber-attack from an external entity?

On this panel we will discuss what is currently being done to protect Irish infrastructure and businesses against the ever-increasing threat of international hackers. Is this enough and what should we be doing to strengthen our protection. The panel will also discuss Ireland’s National Cyber Security Strategy and the potential impact that not taking these treats seriously could have on foreign direct investment.  

The recent retail cyber attacks, where a failure in two-factor authentication (2FA) led to the theft of sensitive customer data, underscores the vulnerabilities in authentication systems. This panel will examine how weaknesses in 2FA can be exploited for identity theft and explore strategies for improving cybersecurity to prevent such breaches.

• The evolving risks of identity theft and the limitations of traditional two-factor authentication
• Securing authentication mechanisms across mobile, web, and third-party services
• The role of adaptive authentication as the future of secure identity verification
• Legal and regulatory implications for UK businesses following identity theft incidents

The National Cyber Security Centre is leading on addressing the cyber skills gap through facilitating increased access to courses, increasing awareness of careers in cybersecurity and in undertaking market analysis to better understand supply and demand. The Centre is also leading on the development of a national strategy to foster state of the art research, innovation and industrial development with cybersecurity. Within this context, this keynote address will also cover the new National Cybersecurity Coordination and Development Centre project, encompassing a €2 million programme of supports for industry and societal stakeholders to strengthen resilience and facilitate innovation.

As cybersecurity has grown more complex with escalating threats and consequences, revisiting the fundamentals takes extra importance. Learn how to cut through the noise to what matters most for practical and effective security. We’ll explore simple things you can do to stop cyberattacks so you can better protect your organization today.

How will the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) impact Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that manufacture or distribute digital products? CRA mandates that these products meet specific cybersecurity requirements throughout their lifecycle, from design to end-of-life. While aiming to enhance digital product security, the CRA poses compliance challenges for SMEs due to its broad scope and technical requirements. Our panel will discuss these challenges and the potential impact within the SME Sector, along with providing information on how companies can prepare for the act.

Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is the first piece of legislation at the European level addressing the topic of digital operational resilience for financial services. It is hailed as a “game changer” that will push Financial Services firms to fully understand how their ICT, operational resilience, cyber and TPRM practices affect the resilience of their most critical functions as well as develop entirely new operational resilience capabilities.

What does DORA mean for firms and how should financial forms engage with the Act?

Prioritising cyber resilience has never been more essential! Following the introduction of the European Union’s NIS2 directive, we will discuss the challenges and risks organisations will face and when implementing upcoming EU Regulations including: NIS2, DORA and the EU AI Directive. Our panel will cover what this means for you and your organisation.

Despite advancements in technology, human error remains a weak link that attackers could exploit. In this session we will discuss the crucial role individuals play in safeguarding digital systems against the evolving threat landscape. Our Speakers will explore the different human behaviours that contribute to security breaches and discuss practical strategies that organisations could take to minimise security breaches.

The world of IT and cyber security is constantly evolving, and staying ahead of the curve is essential for protecting your networks and sensitive information, and preventing cyberattacks. With new technologies emerging all the time, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest trends and developments. From Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), Behavioural Biometrics, Zero Trust Architecture, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Cloud Security and IoT Security,this panel will discuss some of the newest security technologies and how they can help strengthen your IT systems to keep your data safe.

• Protecting your organisation against phishing, ransomware and malware attacks 
• Making it difficult for attackers to reach your users
• Responding to incidents quickly and effectively 
• Why the protection of legacy systems shouldn’t be ignored 
• Responding to current global IT and OT threats

With AI playing an increasingly central role in both cyberattacks and defence mechanisms, educating staff on AI-driven cyber threats is vital to protecting the business. This panel will explore how organisations can equip their workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to identify, prevent, and respond to AI-powered attacks. 

• Understanding the impact of AI on modern cyberattacks and how it enhances threat sophistication
• Assessing the current level of AI awareness and security skills within the organisation
• The role of leadership in promoting AI literacy and building a security-conscious culture
• Effective strategies for educating non-technical staff on AI-driven cyber threats and detection techniques.
• Preparing the business for future AI threats: Creating a culture of continuous learning and adaptation