Renaissance Cyber Expo and Conference 2024 – Now that’s a wrap!

Leopardstown Pavilion, Dublin played host to the 7th Irish Cyber Expo Ireland which incorporates Cyber Conference Ireland, on Thursday 18th of April, where circa 20+ IT & OT Global Security Software Vendors and 15+ IT/OT Service providers were in attendance to support 400+ business and technical leaders from across Ireland. The day did not disappoint and continues the Cyber Expo & Conference Ireland’s legacy of helping demystify cybersecurity and keeping organisations up to date on trends and developments in the global marketplace.

Cybersecurity poses a significant challenge for organisations as attacks grow in complexity and data privacy becomes paramount. With new legislation like DORA and NIS2 shaping the landscape, the cybersecurity sector is ever-changing. Therefore, staying informed is crucial. This is why Cyber Expo 2024 was vital, bringing together industry leaders to exchange insights and tackle the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape.

Michael Conway, Director of Renaissance, comments, "The challenges in cybersecurity are multifaceted, with adversaries growing increasingly sophisticated, making it one of the largest global crimes and a lucrative revenue stream. As defenses are fortified, cybercriminals persistently find alternative attack vectors, fuelled by vast resources for research. We're witnessing the rise of regulatory frameworks like DORA and NIS2, alongside advancements in identity and access management technologies. Understanding and aiding user behaviour within organisations is paramount in this landscape. Cyber Expo and Conference Ireland provided a vital platform for global collaboration, enabling vendors to understand trends and strategies. It's imperative to remain proactive against evolving threats, safeguarding not only for today but also for the future. The event's diverse perspectives, ranging from keynote speeches to vendor presentations, specialised streams, and expert insights, underscored the invaluable role of Cyber Expo Ireland in shaping the cybersecurity landscape."

This year's Cyber Expo Ireland provided attendees with comprehensive knowledge and education. The event consisted of an opening keynote speech, 9 business and technology streams, and a closing panel session.

Paul C. Dwyer delivered an outstanding opening keynote titled "Cyber Evolution: Security Trends & Predictions for the Year Ahead and Beyond”, emphasising the critical role of compliance in technology, trust, and resilience. He shed light on the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and underscored the importance of compliance in combating cyber threats and ensuring resilience in the financial sector. The presentation underscored the severe consequences of non-compliance, ranging from financial losses to reputational damage.

The opening keynote not only clarified compliance as the fundamental foundation for security operations but also highlighted its significance in building digital trust. He illustrated his points with compelling case studies, revisiting notable incidents like the Royal Bank of Scotland's (Ulster Bank) outrage and the Trustee Savings Bank's system migration disaster. These narratives served as reminders of the tangible repercussions of compliance failures, including compromised customer transactions, financial losses, and irreparable damage to institutional reputation and trust.

Throughout the day, attendees engaged with vendors and cybersecurity experts across nine business and technology streams, each offering valuable insights into various aspects of cybersecurity and describing the evolution of the technologies and strategies to mitigate and respond to these threats.

These sessions provided comprehensive coverage of critical cybersecurity topics, ranging from regulatory compliance to industry-specific challenges and innovative solutions, offering attendees a well-rounded understanding of the cybersecurity landscape.

To conclude the day, attendees were treated to a special panel discussion titled "Cyber Evolution: Security Trends and Predictions for the Year Ahead and Beyond". This session delved into the crucial topics, trends, and regulations covered throughout Cyber Expo and Conference Ireland 2024, equipping attendees with knowledge of emerging technologies and evolving attack vectors.

The panel featured insights and real-world experiences from a diverse range of industry experts, including Paul C. Dwyer, Pat Ryan, Tracy Pound, Gill Thomas, and Paul Edmondson, facilitated by Charlie Taylor. Pat Ryan (An Garda Siochana) gave fascinating insights into the global view of cybercrime and how An Garda Siochana fits into this world and indeed plays a leading part in the fight against Cyber Crime.

The on-demand sessions for Cyber Expo and Conference Ireland 2024 will be available shortly. Keep an eye on cyberexpoireland.ie for further updates!

Reflecting on the event, Michael Conway expressed delighted with the overwhelming response, deeming it the most successful event to date. He noted attendees' eagerness to connect and engage with peers in the industry, hoping that the event provided valuable insights and sparked meaningful reflections and discussions.

The Cyber Expo & Ireland Team would also like to take this opportunity to extend their sincere thanks to event partners Paul C Dwyer and the ICTTF, The Business Post as media partner and ICT Skillnet for their hard work & support in preparation for this event.

In addition, Cyber Conference Ireland incorporated world-class thought leadership from experts across nine dedicated Streams – all supported from the security community so a big thank you to:

Vivienne Mee, Founder of VM Group

Rowan Fogarty, Chief Operating Officer, VigiTrust

David Lello, Chief Information Officer at Burning Tree

David McCullough, Chief Commercial Officer at XSell

Paul Hearns, Business Owner at PJH Consulting

Paul Edmondson, Commercial Director at InspiritVision

Carmel Somers, Human Capital Strategist, ICT Skillnet

Sean Reynolds, Founder & CEO, Rits Information Security

Finally, last but not least of the mentions – the exhibitors themselves demonstrated world-class security solutions, to which Renaissance and the team at Cyber Expo & Conference Ireland would like to thank sincerely for their continued support.

CompTIA, ICTTF, ICT Skillnet, Keeper, Centripetal, Energy Logserver, Proofpoint, Cyberelements, Sonicwall, Fortanix, Hornetsecurity, BullWall, Asimily, Parallels, Progress, Security Scorecard, Fastvue, usecure, Admin By Request, Watchguard, Zyxel Networks, Bitdefender, Octiga, Cyber Ireland, ITMS Ireland, DNA IT Solutions, Burning Tree, Cara Network Solutions, MJ Flood, Qualcom, iPing IT Services, Inspirit Vision, InfinITy, Edge 7 networks, EVAD technology group, Rits, Nostra, VM Group Future Range and Leaf.

Renaissance remains a trusted partner to the Irish Resellers and their customers, with over 30 years’ experience and expertise. They are continually introducing new, cutting edge and industry-leading Data Security and Compliance solutions into the Irish market and have helped introduce, in excess of 40 new security solutions over the past 5 years. Renaissance has built its reputation in the Irish marketplace, by offering excellent pre/post sales service to its extensive network base, and by an ongoing desire to bring added value to its customers.

For more information see www.cyberexpoireland.ie Or www.renaissance.ie