CYBERSEC Global 2020 - what September 11th was for security, COVID-19 will be for digitization

This year, the speakers included the President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, the President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, the Vice-President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager and the Deputy Secretary General of NATO Mircea Geoană. The event, organized for the sixth time by the Kosciuszko Institute, was held entirely online and was broadcast from the ICE Congress Center in Krakow.

During the three days, although not live in the conference center, we were able to discuss many important issues related to cyberspace security. Why we couldn't afford to let the international CYBERSEC community meet this year is best illustrated by a quote from one of the speakers Samir Saran, President of the Observer Research Foundation from India, who said: "What September 11 was for security, COVID-19 will be for digitization". This is an extremely accurate description of the moment we are at, and at the same time a signal to take joint action against Internet threats as soon as possible. Maintaining a technological advantage and embedding security into the DNA of the digital world can make a difference for the future of the world we live in. Speakers of CYBERSEC Global 2020 presented several valuable recommendations in this regard - said Izabela Albrycht, President of the Kościuszko Institute and president of CYBERSEC.

This year's forum was held under the slogan "Together Against Adversarial Internet". One of the fathers of the Internet, Vice paresident of Google Vint Cerf, aware of many dangers present on the Internet, pointed to its value as an open and widely accessible network. Any possible division of the Internet, the creation of different networks in separate and closed political and system blocks would be a great harm to people. Kersti Kaljulaid, the Estonian President added that such a solution could lead to serious social and economic consequences. Both Kaljulaid and Vice President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager believe that the continuation of the idea of the Internet open to all and connecting the global community, while ensuring user safety, is a welcome solution. Security guaranteed by governments through appropriate law, but also derived from a secure technological infrastructure and knowledge and education about digital threats.

Cyberspace threats concern more than only ordinary people, but also economies and states. This  was discussed on the second day of CYBERSEC. The modern world, and the COVID-19 pandemic has additionally emphasized this, is based on a new digital plane. Data has become the most valuable and most desirable commodity, it not only changed the balance of power in business branches or the geoeconomic situation of countries, but also forced companies to intensify actions to strengthen security. Especially in a situation in which work is performed remotely more and more often.

One of the important issues was the security of the implemented solutions at the state level. An example was provided with the development of the 5G network and its use in the military context. Experts pointed to new opportunities offered by 5G technology, such as the implementation of solutions based on artificial intelligence, virtual or augmented reality, but also stipulated the need for the safe development of the 5G network.

During CYBERSEC Global 2020, the European CYBERSEC Award 2020 was also presented, an award for activities for cybersecurity as an element of national, social and economic security. This year, the award went to the United Kingdom, distinguished for a proactive and innovative approach to building a consistent policy of fighting cyberspace threats and building capabilities and resources in cyberspace.

CYEBRSEC EXPO was the second edition of the cybersecurity fair organized under the CYBERSEC brand. This year, during the virtual fair, you could see an exhibition of almost 100 companies actively shaping the Polish and global IT-sec market. At the CYBERSEC EXPO stage, discussions were carried out on the future of the cybersecurity market, on the role of public administration as well as clusters and universities in building an innovative and competitive ICT sector. The pretext for the discussions was, among others, the establishment of the first Polish Cyber Security Cluster #CyberMadeInPoland, which already brings together almost 50 Polish companies from the IT-sec industry in September.