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Program - Spring ITAPA 2026


  • Program
08:00
SECURITY DAY
SECURITY DAY
Transitioning from sovereignty to security, the program for the first day, SECURITY DAY, reflects the dynamic evolution of threats in 2026.

Throughout both days, the EXPO ZONE will feature interactive demonstrations of the latest innovations and MASTERCLASSES focused on practical skill-building in security and artificial intelligence.
The program will be accompanied

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08:00
Registration
08:30
deň 1 - sekcia 1.0
8:45 - 8:55 Opening of the Conference (hall London I+II)
Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič
08:45
Michal Ivantyšyn, ITAPA
Welcoming guests
08:55
virkunnen
8:55 - 9:00 From Regulation to Capability: Europe’s Path to Digital Sovereignty (hall London I+II)
Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič
08:55
Henna Virkunnen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
From Regulation to Capability: Europe’s Path to Digital Sovereignty (6 min)
09:00
Geopoliticke hrozby
9:00 - 9:30 Geopolitical Threats and Their Impact on the Knowledge Economy (hall London I+II)
How can Europe reduce its digital dependence and regain its technological strength, if not dominance? Europe need not be condemned to the role of a passive user of technology, but can become a “second mover” if it can leverage its infrastructure, data, market, regulation, and its own industrial capabilities. However, there are many precedents for such situations.

Moderator: Ivan Makatura
09:00
Ivan Mikloš, ex-Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Slovak Republic
1on1 interview (25 min)
08:40
deň 1 - sekcia 2.0
9:30 - 9:55 Who Decides Which Technologies are Still Trustworthy? Europe is Changing its Cybersecurity Rules (hall London I+II)

The European Union is preparing a major revision of the Cybersecurity Act (Cybersecurity Act 2.0), which could significantly reshape the digital market, certification processes, and cybersecurity regulations across Europe. The new framework will no longer focus solely on technical standards, but will also address strategic autonomy, supply chain trustworthiness, and non-technical risks related to the origin of technologies and manufacturers. What role will ENISA play? How will European certification evolve, and what impact will the new rules have on governments, critical infrastructure, and the private sector? And where is the line between cybersecurity protection and the emerging geopolitics of technology?

Moderator: Radoslav Repa

09:30
Svetlana Schuster, DG CNECT
Keynote (20 min)
09:55
Resilent Nation
9:55 - 10:15 A Resilient Nation: How to Manage a Crisis in the Digital Age? (hall London I+II)

Today, national resilience means more than just protecting information systems. Critical infrastructure, government digital services, energy, transportation, and communications are increasingly dependent on technology while also becoming more exposed to cyber threats. The European Union is therefore tightening requirements for critical infrastructure protection, risk management, and national crisis preparedness. The discussion will focus on the relationship between critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and cyber defense. How can the continuity of essential government services be ensured during incidents or crises?

Moderator: Ivan Makatura

09:55
Patrik Krauspe, Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic
1on1 interview (15 min)
09:30
ATOS panel
10:15 - 10:35 IT Solutions from Atos Slovakia – The Path to Secure Digital Sovereignty (hall London I+II)
Digital sovereignty is currently oscillating as a strategic topic within the private and public sectors. It is related to geopolitical fragmentation, regulations as well as the concentration of critical digital capabilities among a limited number of global service providers.

Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič
10:35
Palo Alto sekcia
10:35 - 10:50 The Cyber Battlefield 2026 (hall London I+II)
Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič
10:35
Zsolt Géczi, Palo Alto Networks
From Threat Analysis to Autonomous Cyber (10 min)
09:15
deň 1 - sekcia 4.0
10:50 - 11:10 How Europe Builds Sovereign AI: From National Ambition to Real Capacity (hall London I+II)
The future of AI will no longer be determined solely by laboratories and companies, but also by those who control the infrastructure, data, and rules. Europe has a great deal at stake: its sovereignty, security, and ability to remain a relevant power in the digital age.

Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič
10:50
11:10
NETWORKING BREAK
09:50
deň 1 - sekcia 6.0
11:30 - 11:55 Where is the Cybersecurity Industry Headed? (hall London I+II)
Cybersecurity is evolving faster than ever - from protecting government data to addressing emerging threats and adopting new technologies that are fundamentally transforming how organizations operate. This panel will bring together industry leaders to share their perspectives on the future of cybersecurity, the challenges facing both governments and businesses, and the key factors that will shape trust in the digital world in the years ahead.

Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič

PARTNER OF THE PANEL IS COMPANY FORCEPOINT
Forcepoint-Logo-1C-Black
 
11:30
Tomáš Kelemen, FORTINET
1on1 interview (10 min)
11:40
Igor Urban, Forcepoint
1on1 interview (10 min)
11:30 - 12:00 Technologies for National Security (hall LONDON III)
Technology is reshaping the way police, firefighters, and security forces operate. From predictive risk assessment and prevention to real-time situational awareness and rapid emergency response.

Moderator: Miroslav Havelka
11:30
Martin Hrachala, Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic
Jozef Voľanský, Firemen and Rescuers, Ministry of Interior of the Slovak republic
DISCUSSION "Technologies for National Security" (20 min)
11:30 - 11:50 Meet the Exhibitor (hall ROME)
An informal meeting with an exhibitor where you can network, get answers to your questions, and learn more about the solutions and new products on offer.

Moderator: Filip Lepieš
11:30
Martin Leňo, LENMAR Solution
Meet the Exhibitor: LENMAR Solution (20 min)
10:20
deň 1 - sekcia 7.0
11:55 - 12:15 When Reality Fades: Social Engineering and Digital Trust in the Age of AI (hall London I+II)
AI-generated content, bots, and automated manipulation are transforming the online landscape and security risks alike. How can we detect synthetic activity, protect users from a new generation of social engineering, and maintain trust in the digital space?

Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič
10:15
1 deň - sekcia 4
12:15 - 12:45 Cybersecurity Requirements Without a Large Budget (hall London I+II)

Growing regulatory requirements are placing increasing demands on organizations, many of which lack sufficient financial and human resources. According to surveys, only a small fraction of organizations consider their preparedness for new obligations to be adequate, with regulations becoming a significant source of pressure on IT and security management. This session will focus on identifying the minimum viable measures needed to meet legislative requirements and practical approaches to effective implementation - even within a limited budget. It will present risk prioritization and pragmatic strategies for leveraging existing resources.

Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič

12:00 - 12:20 Meet the Exhibitor (hall ROME)
An informal meeting with an exhibitor where you can network, get answers to your questions, and learn more about the solutions and new products on offer.

Moderator: Filip Lepieš
12:00
Miroslav Hrubý, Your Technology
Meet the Exhibitor: Your Technology (20 min)
12:45
LUNCH
13:50
deň 1 - sekcia 12.0
13:45 - 14:20 The Resilient Organization: Prevention, Preparedness, Detection, and Response (hall London I+II)
The best defense does not begin at the moment of impact, but long before it. This panel will demonstrate how people, technology, processes, and monitoring converge to build true organizational resilience - the capacity to preempt attacks, detect them in their early stages, mitigate their impact, and restore operations without collapse.

Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič
 
PARTNER OF THE PANEL IS COMPANY SONPO, a.s.
Sonpo
13:45
13:57
Petr Chmelík, SONPO
Ferdinand Vavrík, Ministry of Finance of Slovak Republic
Presentation "The Resilient Organization: Prevention, Preparedness, Detection, and Response" (20 min)
13:45 - 14:10 National Resilience in a Crisis: From the First Minutes to National Response Plans (hall LONDON III)
A crisis will test not only the ability to respond quickly but also a state’s preparedness to manage it. How are crisis management plans implemented in the immediate aftermath of an incident? How are security agencies coordinated, and what mechanisms are in place to manage large-scale cyber incidents?

Moderator: Miroslav Havelka
13:45
13:55
Matej Šalmík, National Security Authority SK-CERT
1on1 interview (10 min)
13:45 - 14:05 Meet the Speaker (hall ROME)
Meet industry experts in small groups and an informal setting. “Meet the Speaker” is a new format that lets you get even closer to the conference speakers. Get answers to your questions and discuss topics that interest you.

Moderator: Filip Lepieš
13:45
Domagoj Marić, Pontis Technology
Meet the Speaker (20 min)
15:35
Line
14:20 - 15:20 Agentic AI as a New Attack Vector (hall London I+II)

AI agents are emerging as a new class of "digital workers"—tireless, scalable, and increasingly empowered to act without direct human intervention. However, this very autonomy fundamentally reshapes organizational security models and introduces entirely new classes of risk. Beyond legitimate use, agentic AI is becoming a potent tool for adversaries, enabling the automation of reconnaissance, social engineering, attack generation, and the bypassing of security mechanisms at unprecedented scale and speed. A featured case study will demonstrate how a beneficial tool can transform into an active threat vector the moment autonomy outpaces control mechanisms. This session will focus on emerging threats associated with AI agent deployment, their exploitation in offensive scenarios, and strategies for managing these risks—from permission mapping and oversight to implementing security frameworks for agentic systems.

Moderator: Ivan Makatura

PARTNER OF THE PANEL IS COMPANY CHECKPOINT

Check-Point-logo-color

14:20
Daniel Hejda, Cyber Rangers
Keynote (10 min)
14:47
Daniel Hejda, Ethical hacker, Cyber Rangers
Juraj Jánošík, ESET
Tomáš Vobruba, Check Point
DISCUSSION "Agentic AI as a New Attack Vector" (30 min)
14:10 - 14:35 A Regulatory Storm in Cybersecurity (hall LONDON III)

Both European and Slovak regulators are responding to mounting cyber threats through a dynamic expansion of legislation. Alongside the NIS2 Directive, the AI Act is entering into force with the potential for significant penalties; the first deadlines under the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) are beginning to lapse, and a revision of the Cybersecurity Act (CSA) is underway. Simultaneously, indirect interventions into the NIS2 framework are occurring. This session will provide an overview of the European and Slovak cybersecurity legislative structure, explain its context and internal logic, and identify the primary impacts on compliance management. It will also focus on expected developments and the practical challenges organizations will face in the near future.

Moderator: Miroslav Havelka

14:10
Róbert Kováč, Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
Zuzana Regenda, Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
DISCUSSION "A Regulatory Storm in Cybersecurity" (20 min)
09:00
first panel
15:20 - 15:45 How Crypto-Agility Becomes the New Competitive Advantage (hall London I+II)

The year 2026 marks a pivotal milestone in the field of cybersecurity. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is progressively moving from academic theory into practical application, as the anticipated arrival of quantum computers (the so-called "Q-Day") pressures organizations to protect sensitive data well in advance. This session will focus on the practical implications of this transformation—specifically the need for crypto-agility: the ability of organizations to flexibly change and update cryptographic mechanisms without major disruptions to their infrastructure. It will present the current state of standardization, migration strategies to PQC, and demonstrate why preparedness for these changes is becoming not only a security necessity but also a significant competitive advantage.

Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič

15:20
Pavol Frič, IT Association of Slovakia
Ľubomír Labanc, IBM Slovakia
DISCUSSION "How Crypto-Agility Becomes the New Competitive Advantage" (20 min)
15:25 - 15:55 Meet the Speaker (hall ROME)
Meet industry experts in small groups and an informal setting. “Meet the Speaker” is a new format that lets you get even closer to the conference speakers. Get answers to your questions and discuss topics that interest you.

Moderator: Filip Lepieš
15:25
Daniel Hejda, Cyber Rangers
Meet the Speaker (20 min)
15:45
NETWORKING BREAK
14:10
deň 1 - sekcia 13.0
16:10 - 16:45 When Failure Is Not an Option: How the State Builds Cyber Resilience (hall London I+II)

Today, a cyber incident in the public sector is no longer merely a technical problem or an IT system outage. It can paralyze public services, disrupt financial processes, compromise citizens’ sensitive data, and undermine trust in government. The resilience of digital services is therefore becoming one of the key issues in both security and governance.The discussion will explore how individual ministries are building the capacity to prevent incidents, monitor threats, and ensure operational continuity for systems the state cannot afford to lose. What experience do they have in building security oversight, response capabilities, and BCP/DRP frameworks? The panel will also address inter-ministerial cooperation, incident response coordination, and the state’s preparedness for situations in which the failure of digital services could have an immediate impact on the functioning of the country.

Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič

16:10
Róbert Kováč, Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
Jozef Pajtina, Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic
Stanislav Schubert, Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic
DISCUSSION "When Failure Is Not an Option: How the State Builds Cyber Resilience" (30 min)
15:20
deň 1 - sekcia 16.0
16:45 - 17:25 ITAPA OPEN TALK: Slovakia's Cybersecurity Resilience: From Vision to Reality (hall London I+II)

The digital state is increasingly dependent on reliable information systems. Growing geopolitical tensions, emerging technologies - including artificial intelligence - and the increasing interconnectedness of digital services are placing new demands on the resilience of both the public sector and society as a whole. What are Slovakia’s biggest challenges in this area? Where are our strengths, and where do the greatest risks remain? The discussion will also address whether Slovakia can fully leverage the potential of cooperation between the state, the private sector, and the professional community in protecting cyberspace. Attention will also be given to alignment with European initiatives, the role of the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity, and opportunities for Slovakia to engage more effectively in the development of the European cybersecurity community.

Moderator: Pavol Dovičovič

16:45
Martin Hrachala, Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic
Ivan Makatura, Cybersecurity Association
Ladislav Šnapko, Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
DISCUSSION "Slovakia's Cybersecurity Resilience: From Vision to Reality" (30 min)
17:25
Glass of wine
08:00
EXPO ZONE
EXPO ZONE (hall ROME)
Throughout the Spring ITAPA 2026 event, we invite you to visit the EXPO zone, where you’ll find interactive exhibits.

See the list of exhibitors
08:00
Slido