Keynote: Power, Politics and AI: The Global Forces Driving Cyber Risk in 2026

Cybersecurity is no longer just a technology problem, it’s also now a geopolitical one. State-sponsored actors are targeting critical infrastructure with increasing boldness, AI-powered political attacks are testing democratic institutions, and regulatory frameworks around data sovereignty are reshaping how organisations operate across borders. This opening keynote examines the global forces that are driving cyber risk in 2026: from geopolitical disruption and the weaponisation of AI to the shifting regulatory landscape that every Irish organisation needs to navigate.

Key Conference Sessions

Attack, Defend, Govern: The AI Security Playbook

AI is now embedded in every layer of the cybersecurity landscape. Attackers are using it to launch autonomous operations, generate convincing deepfakes and discover zero-day vulnerabilities at speed. Defenders are building AI-driven SOCs that detect and respond to threats in real time. And organisations everywhere are grappling with shadow AI, model risk and a wave of new regulation including the EU AI Act. This stream brings together security vendors at the cutting edge to address the full AI picture: offensive threats, defensive tools, governance frameworks, workforce readiness and the strategic shifts that will define secure organisations in 2026 and beyond.

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The Compliance Reality Check: What Irish Organisations Actually Need to Do

The deadlines have passed and regulators are watching. This session moves beyond theory to examine what NIS2 and DORA compliance looks like in practice. We address incident reporting, supply chain risk requirements, board-level accountability and the documentation regulators expect, with lessons from organisations that have been through the process.

Layered Defence: Protecting Data and Infrastructure Across Your Environment

No single control point is sufficient, and data remains the ultimate target. This session brings together endpoint, network, cloud and data security perspectives to explore how organisations can build layered defences that work together. We address EDR, next-generation firewalls, cloud workload protection, data discovery, classification and loss prevention, with particular focus on the risks introduced by generative AI adoption, the insider threat challenge, and the operational reality of tool proliferation and alert fatigue.

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When Prevention Fails: Ransomware, Recovery and Operational Resilience

The question is no longer whether you’ll face a serious incident but how quickly you can recover. With ransomware attacks increasing in volume and sophistication, this session addresses the full lifecycle from prevention through to containment and recovery. We examined the critical importance of immutable backups, tested recovery procedures, and the often-overlooked challenge of Active Directory restoration

Identity Compromise, Deception and the Human Attack Surface

Attackers don’t need to find a vulnerability when they can steal a credential or trick a human. From AI-generated phishing that’s virtually indistinguishable from legitimate communication to credential theft, privilege escalation and Active Directory compromise, the most common path into organisations now runs through people and their identities. This session examines how social engineering and identity attacks are converging, why Zero Trust must address both technical controls and human factors, and what practical defences look like when the threat is designed to bypass every instinct your users rely on.

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Closing Panel: Security Leadership 2026: What Keeps CISOs Awake at Night

This session dives into the most pressing challenges facing Irish organisations today: from geopolitical disruption and AI-powered attacks to regulatory pressure, ransomware resilience, and safeguarding critical infrastructure. In this closing panel, security leaders from across Irish industry offered candid perspectives on the decisions set to define cybersecurity leadership and explored what it truly takes to keep an organisation secure, resilient, and prepared.

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Renaissance, a Northamber PLC Company, is a multi-award-winning Irish Value-Added IT Security Distributor (VAD). Our mission is to strengthen and educate the Irish IT/OT Security Channel by providing support, insights, and the latest industry updates to Vendors, Resellers, and End Users. As a true VAD, we go beyond simply supplying products, we deliver tailored solutions. We work closely with MSPs and VARs to help package offerings that drive greater value for their customers and increased revenue for partners and vendors alike. Our focus is on helping partners deliver secure, compliant, and future-proof IT environments. With a strong portfolio of global security vendors, Renaissance is well-positioned to support organisations in assessing current security measures, designing practical improvements, and implementing changes over time – prioritising the most critical risks first. We are also the organisers of Cyber Expo and Conference Ireland, now in its 9th year, which is the country’s largest cyber event. It brings together industry leaders, vendors, partners, and end users for a full day of insights, networking, and innovation. Learn more.

Cyber Expo & Conference Ireland is a premier event, now in its 9th year, designed to bring together cybersecurity professionals, IT leaders, and decision-makers from across the public and private sectors. Hosted by Renaissance, this event offers a unique opportunity to explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the cybersecurity landscape. With a focus on practical solutions and real-world use cases, this expo and conference creates an engaging environment where industry experts and thought leaders share insights on securing critical infrastructure, adopting emerging technologies, and navigating complex compliance requirements. Whether you’re looking to enhance your organisation’s security posture or stay ahead of evolving threats, Cyber Expo & Conference provides the knowledge, tools, and connections you need to succeed in today’s fast-paced digital world. Learn more.

Cyber Expo & Conference Ireland 2026

Conference Sessions Now Available OnDemand