We chose a one word theme for every S4 event. The theme word for S4x26, Feb 24-26 in Miami South Beach, is Connect.
Why Connect? Four Reasons.
- The obvious reason is the next 1 – 3 years will see an unprecedented number of AI driven business reasons to connect devices and systems regardless of where they reside. Both for sharing data for intelligence as well as for Operations. This is much more than tearing down the air gap between IT and OT that started two decades ago. The OT cyber security community leaders and early adopters need to understand what is coming and what we will need to secure.
- (or maybe 1a) OT security systems will connect with each other and other systems as well. Why is my detection solution not collecting and analyzing attempted connections blocked by the firewall? Crowdstrike alerts? Failed backup routines? Why is this incredibly valuable and increasingly enriched OT cyber asset inventory not made available for non-security purposes? This is coming and connections will be required.
- Connect to related fields to pull in their ideas and solutions that have worked. For example, DBT in the psychology field has techniques for building up the capability for distress tolerance. Hmm, sound familiar? And maybe useful for our mental health and our OT systems.
- Connect to your peers, your colleagues, in the OT security community. This is a (the?) major benefit of any in person event. It’s more important than ever in 2025/2026.
There are 725 tickets already sold and 375 tickets left for S4x26. If you are planning on coming, make sure you get your ticket before they sell out.