DACHsec Summit Returns to Frankfurt to Address AI-Driven Threats and Geopolitical Risk

Senior Security Leaders to Convene for Two Days of Strategic Dialogue, AI-Driven Insights and Peer Exchange

Princeton, NJ – QG Media, an ISMG company, will host the 9th edition of the DACHsec summit on April 15 and 16, 2026, in Frankfurt.

Centered on the theme “Orchestrating Cyber Resilience Through Automated Systems,” this year’s summit will explore how security leaders can move beyond fragmented defenses toward integrated, intelligent and automated security ecosystems.

The CPE-certified summit will bring together over 130 senior security leaders from across Germany, Austria and Switzerland to examine the evolving cyberthreat landscape and share practical strategies for building cyber resilience.

As nation-state operations, AI-enabled attacks and expanding regulatory requirements converge, security leaders across the DACH region face mounting pressure to move from reactive response to proactive, strategic defense. DACHsec provides a practitioner-focused forum to address these challenges through keynotes, panel discussions, interactive Q&A sessions and direct peer exchange.

“Security leaders in the DACH region are navigating a threat environment shaped by AI-powered attacks, geopolitical instability and tightening regulatory demands – all at the same time,” said Kudsia Kaker, managing director at QG Media. “DACHsec brings together practitioners who are working through these challenges every day, creating a space where peer-driven insight and real-world strategies can translate into stronger, more resilient organizations.”

Key Themes

Reflecting this year’s focus on orchestration and automation, the summit agenda is built around five critical areas shaping cybersecurity strategy across the region:

• Securing AI systems: Safeguarding the next frontier of cybersecurity
• Cloud sovereignty in the DACH region: Balancing security and compliance
• Resilience in practice: Building robust disaster recovery plans
• Adapting to NIS2 and DORA: Meeting new ICT risk and oversight standards
• Geopolitics in the digital age: Nation-state threats and the new frontlines of cyber conflict

Together, these themes underscore the need for cohesive, automated approaches that unify security operations, governance and risk management.

AI-Powered Threats: Adapting Defenses in Real Time

Expanding on the role of automation in modern defense, Roger Klose, CISO at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, will examine how generative AI, automated phishing campaigns and deepfake technologies are accelerating the speed and scale of cyberattacks.

Beyond Tactical Firefighting: Reclaiming the Strategic Security Agenda

While automation enhances operational efficiency, it must be anchored in long-term strategy. Boris Awdejew, chief security officer at Rakuten, will address the frequently overlooked strategic dimensions of cybersecurity leadership. His session explores how organizations can move beyond daily incident response by strengthening threat intelligence practices, incident readiness and long-term resilience planning – what Awdejew frames as building a “castle on the hill”: a model of sustained preparedness anchored in foresight and structural governance.

Geopolitics and the Cyberthreat Landscape

At a macro level, orchestration also requires alignment across sectors and borders. A panel moderated by Daniel Schatz, CISO at Qiagen, will examine how nation-state cyber operations are reshaping risk for DACH-region organizations. Panelists Patrick Ghion, head of the Regional Cyber Competence Centre for Western Switzerland at the State of Geneva; Riccardo Sepe, global CISO at Guess; and Mirela Matan, director of information security, will explore how enterprises and public institutions can anticipate geopolitically driven threats, strengthen cross-sector resilience, and deepen collaboration between governments, industry, and international partners.

Attendees will also have access to a dedicated networking hall featuring product demonstrations, vendor engagements and opportunities for strategic collaboration.

By bringing together leadership, technology and strategy under a unified theme, DACHsec 2026 aims to equip organizations with the tools and frameworks needed to operationalize cyber resilience – transforming it from a reactive necessity into a coordinated, automated and enduring capability.

For more information and to register, visit here.

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About ISMG

Information Security Media Group (ISMG) is the world’s largest media organization devoted solely to cybersecurity, information technology, artificial intelligence and operational technology. Each of our 38 media properties provides education, research and news that is specifically tailored to key vertical sectors including banking, healthcare and the public sector; geographies from North America to Southeast Asia; and topics such as data breach prevention, cyber risk assessment, OT security, AI and fraud. Our annual global summit series connects senior security professionals with industry thought leaders to find actionable solutions for pressing cybersecurity challenges.

About QG Media

QG Media is an international provider of cutting-edge B2B conferences and digital content for technology leaders. Focusing on cybersecurity and IoT, QG brings together business leaders to demonstrate thought leadership through content-driven presentations, interviews and webinars. The success of any QG Media event lies in providing expertly curated programs, inviting industry leading speakers, along with offering extensive networking opportunities to promote collaboration and drive innovation.

About ISMG Events

ISMG Events is a premier platform for security professionals and practitioners worldwide. Our global, annual events bring together the ISMG Events Community, comprising over 40,000 members, to exchange knowledge, insights and best practices in the field of cybersecurity. The cornerstone of our event portfolio is the ISMG Global Summit Series. These summits take place both virtually and in-person, offering participants a diverse range of topics to explore. In addition to our Global Summit Series, ISMG Events hosts exclusive Executive Roundtables that are closed-door, topic-focused discussions that provide practitioners with a collaborative environment to address today’s most pressing security concerns.