Armed Forces: Over 4,000 interested parties attended the 2023 ICT Security Conference in Linz

2023-10-06 05:03:06

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner: Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important

Vienna (OTS) – The ICT security conference took place this year on October 3rd and 4th, 2023 with over 100 national and international exhibitors at the Design Center Linz. The ICT security conference is the largest of its kind in German-speaking countries and has been held by the armed forces for over ten years to provide information about ICT security. This year, the Federal Army organized the conference together with its cooperation partners, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria and “Cyber Security Austria”. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner opened the conference on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, which was attended by over 4,000 visitors.

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner: “In recent years it has become clear how important good preparation for crisis scenarios is. This also applies to the digital space. Due to digitalization, the area of cybersecurity is becoming more and more important, as cyberattacks are one of the most likely scenarios these days. At the ICT Security Conference, more than 80 presentations on cybersecurity were presented by international experts. Young talent is particularly important in the IT industry. The armed forces are also constantly looking for talent, such as cyber military officers or ICT officers, in this specialist area.”

Over 80 national and international experts, from Israel, England, Switzerland and of course Austria, presented visitors with lectures on classic IT security topics, legal topics or carried out “live hacks”. Nobel Prize winner Professor Anton Zeilinger highlighted the effects of quantum computing on IT security in his lecture. Almost 100 national and international IT security companies took part in the conference, a cyber exhibition took place and the Federal Ministry of Defense presented cyber escape rooms.

In addition to the specialist lectures and other program items, the main focus was on the shortage of skilled workers and young talent in the IT sector. That’s why the organizers invited selected students from technical colleges with a focus on IT to the event. Furthermore, the final of the “Austrian Cyber Security Challenge” was held at the conference. This year, 20 high school students, 20 students and 18 open class competitors competed on site for the title of “National Cyber Security Champion.”

In order to successfully ward off cyber attacks, experts must work together internationally and across disciplines and receive ongoing training. The aim of the ICT security conference is to provide further training for these IT security experts from all areas. The conference also offers participants the opportunity to exchange ideas and make new contacts across countries as well as deepen existing contacts.