ManuSec Europe Returns to Munich to Address Escalating OT Cyberthreats Facing European Manufacturers

The 9th Edition of the Summit Will Unite Senior IT and OT Security Leaders to Strengthen Resilience Across Europe’s Manufacturing Sector

Princeton, NJ – QG Media, an ISMG company, announces the 9th edition of ManuSec Europe, a cybersecurity summit dedicated to address the challenges in Europe’s manufacturing sector. Taking place on February 26 and 27, 2026, in Munich, Germany, the summit will bring together senior IT and OT security leaders from across automotive, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food and beverage, FMCG, machinery, transport, and agriculture industries.

As organizations integrate legacy OT systems with modern digital tools, they face mounting challenges, including skills shortages, budget constraints and the complexity of securing safety-critical infrastructure. With factories becoming increasingly connected through digital transformation, automation and Industry 4.0 initiatives, the attack surface across OT environments continues to expand, placing business continuity, safety and supply chains at heightened risk.

Manufacturers across Europe are experiencing a dramatic escalation in cyber incidents, with data breaches and ransomware attacks disrupting operations and exposing sensitive data at unprecedented levels. According to Dragos’s Q3 2025 Industrial Ransomware Analysis, manufacturing accounted for 72% of all industrial ransomware incidents in the third quarter of 2025. Europe maintained its position as the second-most affected region globally, with 162 ransomware incidents reported in Q3 2025, following North America. Germany is the most targeted country in Europe for industrial cyberattacks, driven by its high density of automotive, chemical and machinery firms. In 2025, Germany reported 303 ransomware attacks, a 62% increase from the previous year.

“Political tensions and conflicts further heighten cyberthreat activities by the involved actors, who exploit any vulnerabilities, misconfigurations or weaknesses in the supply chain,” said Francisco Andres, independent cybersecurity expert at the European Commission.

Across two days of in-depth discussion, ManuSec Europe – with the theme of “Securing Our Manufacturers Today to Shape the Future of OT Cyber Security” – will feature keynote presentations, case studies, panel discussions and interactive sessions. The summit’s sessions will focus on how enterprises can strengthen OT cyber resilience, improve incident response, foster IT-OT collaboration, and address emerging regulatory pressures such as NIS2 and the EU Cyber Resilience Act. Senior cybersecurity leaders from Europe’s largest manufacturers will share strategies for protecting industrial networks, building road maps for securing safety-critical systems and aligning cybersecurity initiatives with broader business objectives.

Erik Södergren, information security director at DeLaval, will moderate a panel to discuss how organizations can prepare for and respond to cyber incidents in operational environments. The panelists – Ricardo Hormann, industrial cyber security specialist at Volkswagen; Craig McEwen, global CISO at Dechra Pharmaceuticals; Elisa Costante, vice president of core technologies engineering at Forescout Technologies; and Tamir Margalit, director of OT security at Sygnia – will explore the unique challenges of OT incident response, the role of tabletop exercises and cyber ranges, effective board-level communication during crises, and the human impact of cyber incidents on security teams.

A case study by McEwen on OT cyber defense will focus on practical approaches to strengthening detection and response capabilities across industrial environments. Drawing on firsthand experience, the session will explore continuous monitoring, automation, network segmentation and zero-trust principles, as well as the importance of sustained collaboration between IT and OT teams to achieve unified visibility and faster decision-making.

In the session titled “Dynamic Edge Segmentation: Securing the Past, Enabling the Future,” Mark Finch, senior director of OT cyber security at GSK, will explore innovative approaches to securing legacy and modern OT systems. The session will underscore how software-based network segmentation can provide scalable, low-friction protection for plant-floor systems while supporting digital transformation and the evolution toward Industry 4.0.

“European manufacturers are navigating a pivotal moment as digital innovation accelerates faster than many security programs can adapt,” said Kudsia Kaker, managing director at QG Media. “ManuSec Europe has become a critical forum for IT and OT leaders to come together, share hard-earned lessons and develop realistic, resilient approaches to securing operations without compromising productivity or safety.”

ManuSec Europe 2026 will serve as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and strategic planning. The summit aims to advance best practices in industrial cyber defense while helping manufacturers navigate an increasingly complex threat and regulatory landscape.

To learn more about the agenda and register for the event, click here.

***

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.