Partners

Meet our Partners

They will be at the event to answer your questions, share valuable information, and provide solutions to your most pressing challenges.

European CISO Xchange

European CISO Xchange

Agents, Quantum, Sovereignty: Balancing Change with Consistency is the New Security Agenda

8 Nov – 10 Nov 2026 Barcelona, Spain
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Overview

Europe’s IT security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, as organizations move beyond reactive defense to embrace proactive trust orchestration. This new paradigm centers on embedding governance, transparency, and resilience into every facet of digital strategy, ensuring that security is not just a technical safeguard but a foundational element of business value and stakeholder confidence. Leaders are reimagining their approach to risk, compliance, and innovation, recognizing that trust must be architected into systems, processes, and partnerships from the outset.

In this era of accelerating regulatory complexity and technological disruption, the role of the CISO is evolving from technical guardian to strategic enabler. Forward-thinking security leaders are leveraging agentic AI, advancing sovereignty and compliance initiatives, and extending zero trust principles across hybrid environments. By championing collaborative frameworks and data-driven decision-making, they are positioning their organizations to anticipate emerging threats, adapt to shifting market demands, and turn security into a source of competitive advantage and sustainable growth.

Speakers

Duncan Brown

Duncan Brown

Group Vice President, IDC Europe

IDC

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Joel Stradling

Joel Stradling

Research Director, European Security

IDC

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Jennifer Thomson

Jennifer Thomson

Associate Vice President Global Services Insights

IDC

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Carla Arend

Carla Arend

Associate Vice President, Research, Cloud in Europe

IDC

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David Clemente

David Clemente

Research Director, European Security

IDC

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Mark Child

Mark Child

Associate Research Director, Security

IDC Europe

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Courtney Holm

Courtney Holm

Managing Director and Founder

The Hold Edit

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Praveen Singh

Praveen Singh

Head of Global IT Risk and Cyber Security

ICBC Standard Bank

Read Bio

Agenda

European CISO Xchange

Day 1

4:30 pm

IDC Welcome & Official Opening

4:35 pm

Group Innovation Challenge

Speaker

Dina Capelle

Dina Capelle

Senior Research Analyst, IDC

Jennifer Thomson

Jennifer Thomson

Associate Vice President Global Services Insights, IDC

Carla Arend

Carla Arend

Associate Vice President, Research, Cloud in Europe, IDC

6:30 pm

Networking Dinner

Day 2

7:00 am

Xercise Club & Breakfast​

9:00 am

IDC Welcome

Speaker

Jennifer Thomson

Jennifer Thomson

Associate Vice President Global Services Insights, IDC

Carla Arend

Carla Arend

Associate Vice President, Research, Cloud in Europe, IDC

9:10 am

Cyber Resilience in the AI Era

Speaker

European CISO Xchange

European CISO Xchange

9:30 am

FIRESIDE CHAT: CIO Perspective on Security

Carla Arend

Carla Arend

Associate Vice President, Research, Cloud in Europe, IDC

Lydia Nicola

Lydia Nicola

Head of Operations, Amnesty Internationals

9:50 am

Coffeebreak and Networking, One-to-one meetings

10:20 am

FIRESIDE CHAT: Post-Quantum Cryptography in the age of AI

Ralf Helkenberg

Ralf Helkenberg

Research Manager, European Privacy & Data Security, IDC

Marco Pereira

Marco Pereira

Executive Vice President, Global Head Cybersecurity, Capgemini

10:35 am

FIRESIDE CHAT: A view from the public sector: How the UK Government has matured its cyber security policy and engagement with the private sector

Glen Hymers

Glen Hymers

Deputy Director Cyber, Information and Privacy Security, The Cabinet Office

10:50 am

Innovation Challenge

11:20 am

Coffeebreak and Networking, One-to-one meetings

11:50 am

Pathways to Identity Maturity

Stephen Bradford

Stephen Bradford

SVP, and GM for EMEA, SailPoint

12:05 pm

From weakest links to strong allies – Building a modern security culture

Roel Schouten

Roel Schouten

Vice President Information Security, Trivium Packaging

12:25 pm

The Quantum Threat – taking action now to reduce cyber risk

Ralf Helkenberg

Ralf Helkenberg

Research Manager, European Privacy & Data Security, IDC

Tommy Charles

Tommy Charles

Chief Cryptographer, HP Security Lab, HP

12:40 pm

FIRESIDE CHAT: Impact of the blackout on IT and communications in Spain and Portugal

Romain Fouchereau

Romain Fouchereau

Senior Research Manager, IDC

Jorge Fernandes

Jorge Fernandes

CISO, Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários

12:55 pm

Lunch & Networking

2:00 pm

Workshops (Parallel Sessions)

2:45 pm

Change Break

3:00 pm

Workshops (Parallel Sessions)

3:45 pm

Coffee & Networking; One-to-One Meetings

4:15 pm

Group Innovation Challenge

6:30 pm

Gala Dinner

Day 3

7:00 am

Xcercise Club and Breakfast

9:25 am

Cyber Geopolitics: Power, Policy, and the Digital Battlefield

Duncan Brown

Duncan Brown

Group Vice President, IDC Europe, IDC

9:45 am

Coffee & Networking; One-to-One Meetings

10:15 am

Roundtable Session

11:30 am

Coffee & Networking; One-to-One Meetings

11:45 am

Growing Beyond the Industry That Cried Wolf

May Brooks-Kempler

May Brooks-Kempler

Cybersecurity Expert, Strategic Consultant, Speaker, & Mentor, ISC2

12:05 pm

Advisory Board Panel

Bilinda-jo Hall

Bilinda-jo Hall

Senior Governance Analyst – Privacy and Information Security, SAGE Publishing

Antonio Martiradonna

Antonio Martiradonna

SVP Information Security, Orkla

Tom Stewart

Tom Stewart

Head of Information Security, Ryanair

Douglas Weekes

Douglas Weekes

Group CISO, Sainsburys

12:35 pm

IDC Closing: CISO Strategies for Securing a Future Digital Europe

1:00 pm

Networking Lunch

9:15 pm

Welcome Day 2

Attendee Impressions

Industry leaders and global influencers shared their experiences on overcoming challenges and seizing new opportunities. Their insights provided practical perspectives and valuable lessons that continue to inspire and guide our community.

Excellent event with interesting content and, above all, abundant opportunities for networking and peers. It is hugely valuable to understand both shared and distinct challenges across borders and sectors.

VIP attendee, CISO Xchange 2024

A well-organised event, featuring relevant content and a balanced mix of strategic and operational insights. My thanks to the organisers for the opportunity to engage and exchange ideas. I return to the office with new ideas, valuable insights, and the confirmation that collaboration among professionals is key to tackling the challenges of an increasingly complex digital world.

CIO & CISO, Security Summit Italy 2024

The event was a remarkable convergence of industry leaders and innovators. The sessions were highly informative, and the networking opportunities were invaluable. Attending was a transformative experience, offering deep insights and fostering strategic connections that will shape our future initiatives.

IT Director, CIO Xchange 2024

The Summit highlighted the importance of human skills such as storytelling, change management, persuasion, critical thinking, continuous learning, persistence and tech enthusiasm. All of these as a key to achieving a digitally savvy business. Moreover, I had the opportunity to network with industry leaders, exchange insights, and forge valuable relationships, enhancing their digital journey with actionable learning from the event. Great organisation and workshop sessions.

Head of IT, CIO Summit Poland 2024

2025 CISO Xchange highlight video

Our Partners

Venue

Sitges, Barcelona, Spain

Eurostars Sitges

Av. Camí de Miralpeix, 12, 08870, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain

Knowledge Hub

The NIS 2 directive – where are we now?

The deadline for the transposition of the EU’s second Network and Information Systems Security directive (NIS 2) came and went in October 2024 with only a handful of member states having completed the task.

Learn More

Shadow AI: How stealth productivity is strangling enterprise AI adoption. And creating a security nightmare…

Remember the good old days when “Shadow IT” was just about rogue Excel spreadsheets and unauthorized Dropbox accounts? But the times they are a-changing! Now we’re dealing with something far more insidious: Shadow AI. And no, it’s not just lurking in the corners of your or anyone’s organization anymore. Now, it’s driving productivity gains while simultaneously creating security nightmares that, hopefully, keep CISOs wide awake at night.

Learn More

IAM 2025: The Rise of the Machines

Identity and access management (IAM), and by extension, identity security, is one of the most pervasive and impactful challenges facing all European organizations today, from an operational and risk management perspective.

Learn More

Contact Us

Gian Carlo De La Paz

Gian Carlo De La Paz

Senior Event Manager, IDC Xchange

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Kikki Godskesen

Kikki Godskesen

Event Sponsorship Sales Europe, IDC

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Agenda

Agenda

Our agenda is designed to inform, energize, and connect. From visionary keynotes to interactive panels and peer roundtables, each session delivers insight you can act on. Whether refining strategy or leading transformation, this is your space to exchange ideas and plan your next move with confidence.

Agenda

Thursday, October 15

Get ready for a day of clarity and connection.

Expect sharp insights, strategic conversations, and peer exchange that goes beyond the surface. From AI to modernization, cybersecurity to leadership – every session is designed to equip you with what matters most: actionable guidance, real-world examples, and a clearer path to your next bold move as CIO.

CIO Summit

One Day Event

9:00 am

Registration & Welcome Coffee

9:30 am

Welcome Address & Opening

9:40 am

IDC Keynote Session

10:05 am

Host Partner Session

10:20 am

Strategic Partner Session #1

10:35 am

Panel – Tech Panel Partners & Users #1

11:05 am

Strategic Partner Session #2

11:20 am

Coffee Break

11:50 am

Keynote / Interview with End User(s) or Expert(s)

12:00 pm

Tech Talk Partner Session #1

12:10 pm

Panel – Tech Panel Partners & Users #2

12:40 pm

Tech Talk Partner Session #2

12:50 pm

Tech Talk Partner Session #3

1:00 pm

IDC Connect Roundtables for Host and Dialogue Partners

1:50 pm

Host Partner Wrap-up

1:55 pm

IDC Closure

2:00 pm

Cocktail Lunch 

Knowledge Hub

The Dynamic Role of the EMEA CIO: Steering the Digital Ship

In the digital business and AI-everywhere era, technology is now a strategic enabler that permeates every aspect of business operations. According to IDC’s Worldwide CEO Survey (February 2024, n = 67), 48% of CEOs in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) now report regularly to the board on the status of digital initiatives, highlighting the strategic nature of digital technologies among businesses.

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5 Lessons to Shape Your AI Digital Future: Learning from the Past

A little over a year ago, a new phase of the digital business era began with OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT. The generative AI (GenAI) boom is expected to roundly influence what comes next: AI Everywhere. AI is expected to become a driving force of our digital future, impacting individual lives, consumers, citizens, workers, businesses, and society.

Henry Ford said, “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” What should we learn from the past to determine the way forward?

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A Tech Marketer’s Guide in the Age of GenAI – Crafting Unique Narratives

In today’s digital landscape, where AI can churn out content in seconds, marketers face a unique challenge: How can we create narratives that stand out? Let’s explore strategies for crafting compelling and differentiated stories in the era of generative AI (GenAI).

Learn More

Not the right event for you?

Don’t worry! We organize a variety of events designed to inspire original ideas, share the latest industry insights, and connect professionals like you. Simply sign up for event invitations, and we’ll notify you whenever a new event matches your interests.

SIGN UP

CIO Summit

CIO Summit

The Rise of Agentic Systems

15 Oct 2026 EPIC Sana Lisboa Hotel
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Modernize. Secure. Innovate. Lead with the power of Agentic-AI​.

The IDC CIO Summit Portugal 2026 is the leading event for senior technology and business executives shaping enterprise strategy and digital leadership in one of Europe’s most dynamic digital markets. Designed for CIOs, CTOs, and senior IT and transformation leaders, this one-day summit delivers actionable insights on Portugal’s top priorities for 2026: technology modernization, cybersecurity resilience, AI adoption, and aligning IT with measurable business outcomes in a fast-changing regulatory environment.

Agenda

IDC analysts and industry experts will share guidance on how to architect adaptive technology foundations, reduce technical debt, and operationalize AI responsibly while aligning IT with strategic business goals. Through keynote presentations, panels, and peer-led discussions, the Summit equips Portugal’s CIOs with the research, frameworks, and leadership tools to build resilient, secure, and innovation-ready enterprises for 2026 and beyond.​

2026 Prediction

By 2027, 55% of G1000 CIOs will be tasked to create enterprise AI value playbooks, featuring expanded ROI models to define, measure, and showcase AI impact across efficiency, growth, and innovation.​

Main Themes

The CIO as Business Strategist​

CIOs have evolved from operational leaders to enterprise strategists. As digital transformation reshapes every business model, technology leadership now defines competitiveness. Today’s CIO must align IT priorities with business outcomes, influence the boardroom agenda, and drive innovation that delivers measurable value.​

Modernization, Legacy and Technical Debt​

Managing technical debt is no longer just a maintenance concern, it’s a strategic priority. Modernizing legacy systems, simplifying architectures, and optimizing cost structures allow organizations to shift resources from upkeep to innovation. Streamlined technology portfolios create the agility needed to compete in a digital economy.​

The Agentic AI Revolution​

Agentic AI marks a shift from automation to autonomy. How CIOs can govern, scale, and integrate autonomous AI systems responsibly (balancing opportunity with oversight to create intelligent, self-directed enterprises).​

Resilience by Design​

Resilience is emerging as the defining capability of modern enterprises. Adaptive architectures, secure infrastructure, and integrated continuity planning enable organizations to withstand disruption (whether from economic uncertainty, regulatory shifts, or cyber threats) while sustaining growth and trust.​

Cybersecurity, Trust, and Digital Sovereignty​

As digital ecosystems expand, trust becomes a critical currency. CIOs must address cybersecurity, data sovereignty, and compliance in tandem, ensuring that cloud strategies and cross-border operations align with evolving regulations. Building digital trust creates both protection and competitive advantage.

Building the Intelligent Enterprise​

Data is the foundation of every intelligent organization. Reliable, governed, and accessible data architectures enable AI, automation, and analytics to operate at scale. Enterprises that invest in strong data foundations are better positioned to extract insight, anticipate change, and deliver smarter, faster business outcomes.​

2026 Prediction

By 2027, G1000 organizations will face an up to 30% rise in underestimated AI infrastructure costs, driving CIOs to expand the scope of FinOps teams to optimize expenses and enhance business value. ​

Venue

EPIC Sana Lisboa Hotel

Av. Eng. Duarte Pacheco 15, 1070-100 Lisboa

EPIC Sana Lisboa is a modern, five-star hotel in the heart of Lisbon, known for its contemporary design, premium amenities, and exceptional event facilities.

IDC Analysts

Martina Longo

Martina Longo

Research Manager, C-Suite Tech Agenda

IDC

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Luis Fernandes

Luis Fernandes

Senior Research Manager, Infrastructure

IDC Europe

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Leonardo Freitas

Leonardo Freitas

Research Manager, European Skills and Cloud Strategies

IDC

Read bio

Knowledge Hub

The AI homework nobody asked for (but everyone’s getting anyway)

Artificial Intelligence has officially reached the “you can do anything with it” stage of technological hype. Judging just by AI vendor narratives, and by some of the media, it’s the golden key to productivity, efficiency, optimization and innovation.

Read more

The Agentic Business Future: Driving Resilience, Sovereignty, and Innovation in EMEA

As organizations navigate an era defined by economic uncertainty, geopolitical shifts, and relentless technological change, one truth stands out: the future belongs to those who can harness AI, automation, and sovereignty to build resilience, drive innovation, and unlock growth.

Read more

EMEA’s Tech Evolution – 7 Key Themes Transforming Business in 2025

The technology landscape across Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) is changing rapidly in 2025, with innovations actively reshaping industries and creating new business opportunities.

Read more

Not the right event for you?

Don’t worry! We organize a variety of events designed to inspire original ideas, share the latest industry insights, and connect professionals like you. Simply sign up for event invitations, and we’ll notify you whenever a new event matches your interests.

SIGN UP

Partners

Partners

Our partners represent some of the tech industry’s most innovative and leading companies.

Become a partner
Partners

Meet our partners

Our partners play a vital role in making the IT Security Summit a space for innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions. Each one brings cutting-edge expertise and proven impact to the table – helping you navigate your next move with confidence. Click on a Partner to learn more about their work and vision.

 

STRATEGIC

TECH TALK

TECH PANEL

EXPO

Knowledge Hub

The NIS 2 directive – where are we now?

The deadline for the transposition of the EU’s second Network and Information Systems Security directive (NIS 2) came and went in October 2024 with only a handful of member states having completed the task.

Ler mais

European ICT spending implications of NATO’s 5% GDP spending target

At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague a few weeks ago, member states pledged to allocate 5% of their annual GDP to core defense requirements and defense- and security-related expenditures by 2035.

Ler mais

IAM 2025: The Rise of the Machines

Identity and access management (IAM), and by extension, identity security, is one of the most pervasive and impactful challenges facing all European organizations today, from an operational and risk management perspective.

Ler mais

Not the right event for you?

Don’t worry! We organize a variety of events designed to inspire original ideas, share the latest industry insights, and connect professionals like you. Simply sign up for event invitations, and we’ll notify you whenever a new event matches your interests.

SIGN UP

Agenda

Agenda

Our agenda is designed to inspire, challenge, and connect. From keynote sessions with industry leaders to interactive workshops and networking opportunities, each part of the event is built to spark ideas and provide practical insights. Explore the schedule and start planning your experience.

Agenda

Wednesday, May 6

Get ready for a day of decisions and discoveries.
Expect sessions packed with actionable insights, real networking opportunities, and direct access to leaders shaping the future of digital security. This is your moment to dive into trends, exchange ideas, and leave with a clearer view of your next move.

IT Security Summit

One Day Event

9:00 am

Registration & Welcome Coffee

9:30 am

Welcome Address & Opening

Luis Fernandes

Luis Fernandes

Senior Research Manager, Infrastructure, IDC Europe

Leonardo Freitas

Leonardo Freitas

Research Manager, European Skills and Cloud Strategies, IDC

9:40 am

Securing the AI-powered Business

Joel Stradling

Joel Stradling

Research Director, European Security, IDC

10:00 am

Building Trust at Scale: Leadership, Culture, and Cyber-Resilient Ecosystems

Cosmin Ionascu

Cosmin Ionascu

Information Security Risk Management Director, IQVIA

Joel Stradling

Joel Stradling

Research Director, European Security, IDC

10:15 am

Stopping Fraud Before It Starts: Identity Intelligence Meets Agentic AI

Rob Otto

Rob Otto

Principal Solutions Engineer, Ping Identity

Ruben Viegas

Ruben Viegas

Managing Director, Accenture

10:30 am

AI and Security: Tool, Threat, and Trust – Protecting Identities in the Age of Autonomous AI

Luis Ferreira

Luis Ferreira

CISO, Leroy Merlin Portugal

Jorge Sendra Mas

Jorge Sendra Mas

Country Manager, Saviynt Iberia

Luis Fernandes

Luis Fernandes

Senior Research Manager, Infrastructure, IDC Europe

10:50 am

From Theory to Reality: Closing Exposure Management Gaps with Security Validation

David Benito Álvarez

David Benito Álvarez

Regional Manager, Pentera

11:05 am

Coffee Break

11:35 am

Securing Europe’s Market Infrastructure: Cyber Resilience, Data Sovereignty and Trust at Scale

Tiago Dias

Tiago Dias

Head of Red Team, Euronext

Leonardo Freitas

Leonardo Freitas

Research Manager, European Skills and Cloud Strategies, IDC

11:50 am

The Dark Side of AI: How to Address AI-Driven Supply Chain Phishing Attacks

José Fonseca

José Fonseca

Technical Expert, ManageEngine

12:00 pm

Security Operations and Digital Sovereignty: Detect, Respond, Recover

Adelino Correia

Adelino Correia

Head of IT, INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory

Vitor Rolo

Vitor Rolo

Head of IT Infrastructure, Grupo Teixeira Duarte

Leonardo Freitas

Leonardo Freitas

Research Manager, European Skills and Cloud Strategies, IDC

12:20 pm

Emerging Risks and Strategies for Secure AI Implementation

Rui Fernandes

Rui Fernandes

Solutions Engineer, Varonis

12:30 pm

Strategic Investment in Security: From Risk to Value in the Boardroom

André Costa Alves

André Costa Alves

CISO, CGD

Bruno Borges

Bruno Borges

Digital & IT Director, Management Team Member, Volvo Car Portugal

David Marques

David Marques

Head of Cybersecurity, Grupo Nabeiro/Delta Cafés

Nuno Abreu

Nuno Abreu

Head of IT, Unilever FIMA

Luis Fernandes

Luis Fernandes

Senior Research Manager, Infrastructure, IDC Europe

1:00 pm

Security Partnership in Agentic Era

Rogério Ingegneri

Rogério Ingegneri

Solution Engineering Manager, SailPoint

1:05 pm

IDC Closure

Joel Stradling

Joel Stradling

Research Director, European Security, IDC

Luis Fernandes

Luis Fernandes

Senior Research Manager, Infrastructure, IDC Europe

Leonardo Freitas

Leonardo Freitas

Research Manager, European Skills and Cloud Strategies, IDC

1:10 pm

Cocktail Lunch

3:00 pm

End

Knowledge Hub

The NIS 2 directive – where are we now?

The deadline for the transposition of the EU’s second Network and Information Systems Security directive (NIS 2) came and went in October 2024 with only a handful of member states having completed the task.

Ler mais

European ICT spending implications of NATO’s 5% GDP spending target

At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague a few weeks ago, member states pledged to allocate 5% of their annual GDP to core defense requirements and defense- and security-related expenditures by 2035.

Ler mais

IAM 2025: The Rise of the Machines

Identity and access management (IAM), and by extension, identity security, is one of the most pervasive and impactful challenges facing all European organizations today, from an operational and risk management perspective.

Ler mais

Not the right event for you?

Don’t worry! We organize a variety of events designed to inspire original ideas, share the latest industry insights, and connect professionals like you. Simply sign up for event invitations, and we’ll notify you whenever a new event matches your interests.

SIGN UP

IT Security Summit

IT Security Summit

Securing an AI-Powered Business

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Navigating the new frontier of trust, compliance and innovation

Portugal is entering a decisive phase in its digital and cybersecurity evolution. According to IDC’s latest research, IT security spending in Portugal is projected to grow at a double-digit rate through 2028, driven by increasing cyber threat activity, AI adoption, and cloud modernisation initiatives. The country’s cybersecurity agenda, aligned with the EU AI Act, NIS2 Directive, and DORA, underscores a strong commitment to resilience, data protection, and digital sovereignty. IDC also highlights that software, cloud-native security, and analytics solutions will be the fastest-growing segments of Portugal’s cybersecurity market, as organisations move towards more integrated and intelligence-led protection models. For business, security, and technology leaders, the challenge is clear: how to embed trust, governance, and resilience at the core of digital transformation – and turn complexity into a strategic advantage.

Agenda

The IDC IT Security Summit, is the ultimate meeting point for business, security, and technology leaders looking to embed trust, governance, and resilience at the heart of their digital transformation strategies.

Join IDC analysts and industry experts to explore how to build trusted digital ecosystems that combine innovation with assurance. Gain insights into Portugal’s most dynamic sectors – including finance, energy, manufacturing, and public services – and walk away with actionable frameworks to make security a strategic differentiator, not just a reactive cost.​

Main Themes

Regulation, Resilience and Value Creation​

Regulatory compliance is no longer a back-office burden, it’s a strategic enabler. We will explore how organizations can embed regulatory mandates (data privacy, cybersecurity laws, emerging AI/tech rules) into core operations, turning requirements into levers for resilience, stakeholder trust, and business value. Keytopics include cyber-by-design, auditability, vendor accountability, and continuity in the face of disruption.

AI, Automation and Responsible Innovation

AI and intelligent agents are transforming how security is delivered, but with great power comes risk. We will explore pragmatically deploying AI: governance models, guardrails for misuse, prioritization of high-impact use cases, and aligning AI systems with trust, transparency, and accountability.

Operations, Analytics and Resilience Engineering

Detection, response, and recovery are now continuous cycles rather than discrete events. We’ll delve into advanced analytics, managed detection & response, orchestration, external threat visibility (supply chain, third parties), and resilience metrics to operationalize security effectiveness.

The Human Factor: Leadership and Culture

Technology alone doesn’t guarantee security. Leadership, culture, and skill development must align. We will focus on transforming teams, embedding security ownership across functions, and equipping leaders to speak the language of risk and trust to the board, CEOs, and business lines.

Incident and Trust Recovery

Breaches will happen, but what matters is how an organization responds. We will cover crisis communication, forensic response, regulatory handling, insurance, stakeholder trust restoration, and turning adversity into credibility.

Sector and Domain Security Challenges

Different industries and environments pose unique security demands. We will focus on securing critical infrastructure (energy, utilities), connected devices and IoT, healthcare, finance, and emerging environments like smart cities or industrial systems.

Venue

EPIC Sana Lisboa Hotel

Av. Eng. Duarte Pacheco 15, 1070-100 Lisboa

EPIC Sana Lisboa is a modern, five-star hotel in the heart of Lisbon, known for its contemporary design, premium amenities, and exceptional event facilities.

IDC Analysts

Joel Stradling

Joel Stradling

Research Director, European Security

IDC

Read bio

Luis Fernandes

Luis Fernandes

Senior Research Manager, Infrastructure

IDC Europe

Read bio

Leonardo Freitas

Leonardo Freitas

Research Manager, European Skills and Cloud Strategies

IDC

Read bio

Knowledge Hub

The NIS 2 directive – where are we now?

The deadline for the transposition of the EU’s second Network and Information Systems Security directive (NIS 2) came and went in October 2024 with only a handful of member states having completed the task.

Read more

European ICT spending implications of NATO’s 5% GDP spending target

At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague a few weeks ago, member states pledged to allocate 5% of their annual GDP to core defense requirements and defense- and security-related expenditures by 2035.

Read more

IAM 2025: The Rise of the Machines

Identity and access management (IAM), and by extension, identity security, is one of the most pervasive and impactful challenges facing all European organizations today, from an operational and risk management perspective.

Read more

IDC Cloud Summit – Germany

IDC Cloud Summit – Germany

Harnessing AI: Transforming Business Strategies in the Cloud

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57% of European IT decision makers are either already using the cloud for building their AI applications or plan to do so in 2025

In 2025, AI projects will move from hype to reality and need to demonstrate practical business use cases and return on investment. Scaling AI projects successfully will require a strong application modernization, hybrid cloud infrastructure and cloud operations strategy.

Overview

57% of European IT decision makers are either already using the cloud for building their AI applications or plan to do so in 2025. Deciding on the right hybrid cloud architecture for AI will be critical for AI success and 56% of European IT decision makers found that their cloud strategy has had a positive impact on their AI strategy. Where is the best place to run AI workloads, in the public cloud, at the edge, in a private cloud? There are many options and IT decision makers need to take a hard look at AI workload placement. The most important decision criteria will be the availability of security and compliance offerings from the IT partner.

AI-centric environments are spurring the adoption of new workloads across cloud platforms. Public cloud services are increasingly utilized as edge locations, allowing organizations to scale services closer to their business needs efficiently. As businesses consider integrating more data-intensive workloads, factors such as network costs and storage limitations play pivotal roles in application placement decisions.

A hybrid cloud approach to application modernization is the key to developing a modern application landscape that is fit for the AI era. Deciding on the right modernization path for each application class is one of the main decisions that IT decision makers need to take. Approaches range from lift and shift to public cloud with minimal modifications to developing cloud-native applications.

Cloud operations is an area where many European IT decision makers are challenged. The expectations of cost savings from a move to cloud are hard to realize if CloudOps and Cloud FinOps are not properly implemented. Security and governance continue to be a challenge.

Finally, a strong connection between sustainability efforts and cloud cost efficiencies is emerging. More organizations are committing to Net Zero goals while diligently tracking sustainability metrics related to cloud usage.

Demonstrating the business value of the cloud strategy will ensure close alignment between the business and IT strategy in the AI era.

Attendee Impressions

Industry leaders and global influencers shared their experiences on overcoming challenges and seizing new opportunities. Their insights provided practical perspectives and valuable lessons that continue to inspire and guide our community.

Excellent event with interesting content and, above all, abundant opportunities for networking and peers. It is hugely valuable to understand both shared and distinct challenges across borders and sectors.

VIP attendee, CISO Xchange 2024

A well-organised event, featuring relevant content and a balanced mix of strategic and operational insights. My thanks to the organisers for the opportunity to engage and exchange ideas. I return to the office with new ideas, valuable insights, and the confirmation that collaboration among professionals is key to tackling the challenges of an increasingly complex digital world.

CIO & CISO, Security Summit Italy 2024

The event was a remarkable convergence of industry leaders and innovators. The sessions were highly informative, and the networking opportunities were invaluable. Attending was a transformative experience, offering deep insights and fostering strategic connections that will shape our future initiatives.

IT Director, CIO Xchange 2024

The Summit highlighted the importance of human skills such as storytelling, change management, persuasion, critical thinking, continuous learning, persistence and tech enthusiasm. All of these as a key to achieving a digitally savvy business. Moreover, I had the opportunity to network with industry leaders, exchange insights, and forge valuable relationships, enhancing their digital journey with actionable learning from the event. Great organisation and workshop sessions.

Head of IT, CIO Summit Poland 2024

Our Partners

Venue

Global influencers shared powerful stories of how they confronted challenges — and created opportunities from them

Meliá Frankfurt City

Senckenberganlage 13
60325 Frankfurt am Main

https://www.melia.com/en/

Gated Assets

Identity Security 2024: Mapping the Threats and Goals

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Ransomware in EMEA – The Threats and Defenses

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The Critical Role of Governments in EU Cyber-Resilience

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Terms and Conditions

The CIO Summit is aimed at IT and departmental employees from IT user companies in Germany.

IT user companies, for the purposes of these terms and conditions, are all organizations that do not provide consulting services themselves and/or do not develop, manufacture, or distribute IT and communication (ITK) products or services.

Employees of outsourced IT companies exclusively working for the parent company and not engaged in third-party business are also eligible to participate. Employees of IT provider companies generally have access to our events only through sponsorship.

IT provider companies, for the purposes of these terms and conditions, include hardware, software, services, and telecommunications companies, as well as consulting firms and ITK service providers.

IDC expressly reserves the right to reject registrations from individuals who do not belong to the above-mentioned target group, even if the invitation was issued by one of our partners, mistakenly by IDC itself, or through participation in an online survey.

After your registration via the online registration form and successful verification by IDC, you will receive a binding registration confirmation by email.

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AI & Data Summit

AI & Data Summit

Unlocking the Power of Data and AI

8 Oct 2026 Milan, Italy
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Building Intelligence that Creates Real Value​

The IDC AI and Data Summit is the premier event for senior technology and business executives shaping artificial intelligence and data strategies across Italy. Designed for CDOs, Heads of Data, and AI and innovation leaders, this full-day event delivers strategic insights and practical frameworks aligned with Italy’s national priorities: AI-driven industrial modernization, digital sovereignty, ethical and human-centric innovation, and data governance excellence.

Italy is fast becoming a key player in Europe’s responsible AI landscape, guided by the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, and a growing commitment to sustainable, transparent, and sovereign digital innovation. As organizations expand AI adoption in 2026, they face complex challenges: ensuring compliance with the EU AI Act, addressing data quality and governance issues, and modernizing fragmented infrastructures to support scalable, trusted AI.

Agenda

IDC research shows that 29% of European enterprises cite data quality and availability as their top barrier to realizing AI’s value, while over 90% share data externally but only 30% do so strategically. In Italy, these findings highlight the urgency of developing trusted data ecosystems, interoperable platforms, and robust governance frameworks that foster innovation while safeguarding privacy, accountability, and ethical standards.

Through keynotes, executive panels, and peer discussions, participants will gain the insights and tools needed to transform AI and data into pillars of Italy’s next wave of innovation, resilience, and digital competitiveness.

Main Themes

Data Value Reinvention in the Age of AI​

Organizations are shifting from thinking about “using AI” to “leveraging data for AI value,” integrating data maturity practices like cataloging, lineage, and observability to fuel model performance and business impact.​

Business Value and ROI from AI & Data

Translating AI and data experiments into measurable business outcomes demands clear KPI frameworks, strong business cases, and scalable use cases tied to financial value.

Trust, Transparency and Responsible AI​

Embedding fairness, bias mitigation, auditability, and explainability across the AI lifecycle helps build user confidence, regulatory alignment, and long-term trust in intelligent systems.​

Data Sovereignty, Governance and Interoperability​

Balancing data residency, regulatory constraints, and cross-border flow requires hybrid cloud strategies, shared governance models, and interoperable architectures that meet business needs.

Generative and Agentic AI: The Next Frontier

As generative and agentic models go beyond assistance, leaders focus on guardrails, cost/risk trade-offs, hybrid model design, and alignment with existing AI systems.​

Infrastructure Evolution: Edge, Cloud and AI Platforms

Deploying AI at scale depends on modern, flexible infrastructure spanning edge and cloud, optimized for latency, throughput, cost, sovereignty, and workload distribution.

Venue

Magna Pars Event Space

via Tortona, 15

Milan, Italy

How to join

The event, which will take place on October 8, 2026 starting at 9:00 am is free of charge (upon filling the registration form), for professionals in the following sectors: Manufacturing, Automotive, Fashion, Finance, Banking and Insurance, Retail, Energy and Utilities, Media, Government, Health, Education, Transports, Logistics, Telecommunications, Personal and Professional Services.

Access to the event is not allowed for non-sponsoring ICT companies (vendor, distributors, reseller, VAR, system integrator), ICT consultancy and services companies, private individuals and freelancers.

The official language of the event is Italian.

Speakers

Roberta Bigliani

Roberta Bigliani

Group Vice President, Global Lead for Energy & Retail Insights and Industry Hub

IDC

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Alessandro Perilli

Alessandro Perilli

Vice President, Enterprise AI Strategies

IDC

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Knowledge Hub

5 Key Highlights on the European Observability Market in 2025

Observability is rapidly evolving as organizations across Europe embrace digital transformation, cloud adoption, and AI. As IT environments become more complex, traditional monitoring approaches are no longer sufficient.

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The Agentic Business Future: Driving Resilience, Sovereignty, and Innovation in EMEA

As organizations navigate an era defined by economic uncertainty, geopolitical shifts, and relentless technological change, one truth stands out: the future belongs to those who can harness AI, automation, and sovereignty to build resilience, drive innovation, and unlock growth.

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Shadow AI: How stealth productivity is strangling enterprise AI adoption. And creating a security nightmare…

Remember the good old days when “Shadow IT” was just about rogue Excel spreadsheets and unauthorized Dropbox accounts? But the times they are a-changing! Now we’re dealing with something far more insidious: Shadow AI.

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Speakers

Speakers

We’re honored to welcome a group of exceptional leaders to the stage, each bringing unique perspectives, deep expertise, and real-world experience in driving transformation through technology.

Speakers

Meet our speakers

As part of conference, each speaker brings wealth of experience, innovative ideas, and unique perspectives that will be instrumental in shaping the future of our industry. Click on a speaker to view their full bio.

Nevena Conić

Nevena Conić

Regional Manager

IDC Adriatics

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Advisory Board

TBA

IDC Analysts

Andrea Siviero

Andrea Siviero

Senior Research Director, AI-fueled Business Strategies

IDC

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Not the right event for you?

Don’t worry! We organize a variety of events designed to inspire original ideas, share the latest industry insights, and connect professionals like you. Simply sign up for event invitations, and we’ll notify you whenever a new event matches your interests.

SIGN UP