Cyber attacks are among the most significant threats to the stability of society. For the first time ever, the annual barometer of risks compiled by one of Germany’s biggest insurance companies has put cybersecurity top of this year’s list of concerns for businesses around the world. Once again, the Swiss Cyber Security Days (SCSD) will bring together leading Swiss and international experts from the field in Fribourg, on February 12 and 13, 2020. The second SCSD will center around the theme of trust in a hyper-connected, digitized society. Some 70 speakers will address issues of major current interest: 5G, the financial industry, cyber warfare, and corporate security. SCSD 2020 will also include a number of special events for students and on the subject of training, innovative start-up projects, and presentations on best practices for SMEs.
Cybersecurity has become a crucial issue. Online banking, transport, telecommunications: digitalization affects every aspect of our daily lives. It is also an increasingly significant challenge for businesses of all sizes. The Swiss Cyber Security Days 2020 have a varied program centered on the theme of trust in a hyper-connected, digitized society. Some 70 contributors from around the world and 120 exhibitors will help strengthen knowledge sharing in this field through talks, panel discussions, and special spaces for SMEs and young people in training.
Sharing experience: a priority at SCSD
A cyber attack can have serious consequences for a business or organization, even if no data is stolen. Learning from the experience of others and sharing knowledge is one of the goals of the SCSD. The Danish shipping company Maersk, luxury watchmaker IWC, and the Wetzikon hospital have all been the victims of such incidents. Their leaders will share what they learned from their experiences and explain what measures they have taken to prevent future threats. There will also be a program for sharing best practices, specifically aimed at SMEs.
Digital challenges surrounding 5G and social networks
The launch of 5G is prompting a lot of debate in Switzerland, particularly around health issues. But what are the major security challenges posed by 5G networks? Nick Dawson, Global Director, Knox Strategy & Business Development at Samsung Electronics, and Philippe Vuilleumier, Head of Security at Swisscom, will discuss these challenges in a keynote speech on hyperconnectivity.
A surprise guest will also attend the SCSD to shed light on the dark side of social networks. “The Wiz” leads a double life: an ordinary employee by day, he spends his nights programming bots to uncover abuses of Instagram and Facebook. Thus he reveals the business models and tools used to influence opinion for political or commercial gain.
Special program for the cyber specialists of tomorrow
As well as technical events for IT and cybersecurity experts, the SCSD 2020 will also include special events with a focus on training and innovation. There is a chronic lack of IT professionals and cybersecurity and cyber defense experts in Switzerland.
On Wednesday, February 12, on the Cyber Education Stage, students and future students interested in studying IT or cybersecurity will be invited to attend presentations by various Swiss universities and technical colleges. And, on Thursday, February 13, recent and future graduates will be able to connect with innovative startups. Access to both these programs is free for students.
Collaboration with the World Economic Forum
This year, for the first time, the SCSD and the Centre for Cybersecurity (c4c) at the World Economic Forum will work in close collaboration to deliver a high-level international panel discussion on Thursday, February 13, 2020. Experts from around the world will discuss possible global solutions for improving cooperation in the field of cybersecurity and how nation states and private actors work towards a digital détente. After all, the risk of a cyber attack is higher in a fragmented cyberspace, which could create rivalries and divide societies.
Fribourg, the cybersecurity capital once again
The first edition of the SCSD in 2019 was a huge success, with more than 2,200 visitors. On February 12-13, 2020, the bilingual town of Fribourg will once again bring together security experts and the general public. Plenary talks will be simultaneously interpreted into French, German and English. You can discover the latest in data security in the Exhibition space.
The media accreditation is now available at swisscybersecuritydays.ch/en/medias
The full program and tickets are available online at www.swisscybersecuritydays.ch
For more information, please contact:
Chrystel Domenjoz, Press Officer
079 698 29 47
About the Swiss Cyber Security Days
The Swiss Cyber Security Days (SCSD) bring the very best Swiss cyber-risk experts together. Taking place at Forum Fribourg on February 12-13, the SCSD will facilitate a vast exchange of technological knowledge through current and future innovative solutions aimed at protecting critical infrastructures and ensuring efficient cooperation between the private and public sectors. This two-day event with a forum and an exhibition bring stakeholders and consultants from economic, political and academic settings together. It is open to anyone seeking cybersecurity solutions, such as SME leaders, IT managers in large companies, students and experts.
Program highlights
International panel discussion with the World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity (c4c)
Alois Zwinggi, Managing Director and Head of the Centre for Cybersecurity (c4c) at the World Economic Forum
Digital connectivity is essential to promoting innovation and prosperity around the world. However, the global scope for attacks in the IT sector is also growing, in particular due to the rapid progress of digitalization and hyperconnectivity. The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2019 places cyber attacks among the top five risks.
A lack of global cooperation on cybersecurity, a fragmented cyberspace and varying technological standards could quickly have a negative impact on economic growth, exacerbate the geopolitical situation, create rivalries and divide societies. How can nation states and private actors work towards a digital détente?
An international panel in close collaboration with the World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity (c4c) will discuss and explore these developments during the Swiss Cyber Security Days. Alois Zwinggi, Managing Director and Head of the c4c at the World Economic Forum, will chair a discussion in which experts from around the world will discuss possible solutions. The participants – from various industries – will be announced a few days ahead of the forum in Fribourg, to ensure topicality.
Alois Zwinggi is a graduate of the University of St Gallen and Harvard Business School. He has worked for Holcim, the Swiss construction materials manufacturer, for over 20 years, in various countries including Mexico and Venezuela. Alongside his work for the Group, he also holds positions on the Executive Committee. He joined the World Economic Forum in 2010 as a member of the Executive Committee.
Andy Powell, CISO, MAERSK
In 2017, Maersk is affected by the NotPetya ransomware. It will take more than two hours to shut down all computers and digital phones were out of order due to the emergency shutdown of the network. The economic impact for Maersk has been estimated at $200-300 million.
Andy Powell joined Maersk in June 2018 as the Chief Information Security Officer and is accountable to the CIO and CEO for assuring all aspects of Information Security and Cybersecurity, across all brands that form part of A P Moller-Maersk. Prior to joining Maersk, Andy was head of the Cybersecurity business for Capgemini, prior to that for CSC, and in both roles, was responsible for delivering Cybersecurity solutions for clients across all sectors. Andy has spent much of his career in the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) as an Engineering Officer and served as CIO/CISO for the RAF and was Head of Cyber Defence Operations for the UK Ministry of Defence.
5G: Hyperconnectivity needs more. Trust. Responsibility. Transparency.
Nick Dawson, Global Director, Knox Strategy & Business Development, Samsung Electronics
Having spent more than 20 years working in the sector, Nick Dawson is a veteran in the field of developing business technology solutions. He has spent the last 15 years working on business mobility. He heads up strategy for software and business services and the global sales team at Samsung Electronics. His team is responsible for strategy and for defining software/services, global partnerships, global business development, and more—with a special focus on the Samsung Knox portfolio.
Trashing like it is 1999: Unsolicited forensics on GPS trackers
Matias Sebastian Soler, Sr. Security Researcher, Intel – IPAS-STORM
Matias Soler is Senior Security Researcher for the Intel STORM team. This talk takes you on a journey from discovering a device up to fully hacking the hardware. Hidden in a dark corner, in the bottom shelf of a huge rack full of old industrial cooking equipment, luminaires, and other weird objects, a bucket full of secrets was awaiting to be found. Who would have imagined that what was once destined to die as landfill, would finally end up revealing the secrets of one of the biggest food distribution networks in Argentina? Join Mathias on this journey of discovery, guided by the will to unveil the secrets hidden in these devices, that will make you think: what else are we ignoring that leaves scary details of our lives/companies dumped in the trash?
Cybersecurity and the financial industry. Panel discussion presented by SIX: banking secrecy in cyber security – between secrecy and transparency
There might still be traditional bank robbers in balaclavas on the loose, but much of the crime in the financial sector has now shifted to the Internet. This is where organized crime operates. Cyber attacks are planned and carried out in vast virtual networks, bringing together a range of expertise. Financial services providers must equip themselves to fight this focused strength; but going it alone isn’t a promising approach, so knowledge sharing is key.
During this panel discussion, CISOs and financial experts will discuss this highly topical issue.
Cyber Switzerland – State of the Nation
Thomas Süssli, Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces
Lieutenant General Süssli is responsible for the leadership and development of the Swiss Armed Forces. He heads the Department’s defense sector and reports directly to Viola Amherd, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS). The Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces commands the Chief of Staff of the Swiss Armed Forces, Operations Command, the Armed Forces Logistics Organization, the Armed Forces Command Support Organization, and the Training Command. He was previously Head of the Swiss Armed Forces Command Support Organization (AFCSO), which provides services in ICT and electronic operations to the army. AFCSO also serves as a center for electronic operations, handling cyber attacks, electronic warfare and cryptology.
A scalable and secure global communication infrastructure
Prof. Dr. Adrian Perrig, Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich, Head of the network security group
Adrian Perrig will address the question of how secure a global communication infrastructure can be. Can we fundamentally protect against DDoS attacks? How can we ensure global routing security? Is it possible to set up a secure global PKI infrastructure? Can we prove formal properties of the security claims of an internet-scale architecture? If we seek a highly secure network, what limitations in terms of scalability, efficiency, economic cost, flexibility, etc. do we need to endure?