Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- Two-day summit addressing operational technology cybersecurity for Australia and New Zealand’s critical infrastructure sectors
- Focus on industrial control systems, SCADA security, and IT/OT convergence challenges
- Designed for CISOs, OT managers, and senior engineers from manufacturing, mining, energy, healthcare, and utilities
- Explores ownership models, regulatory compliance, and operational continuity in industrial environments
- Co-hosted with the ANZ Cyber Summit, offering parallel IT and OT security programmes
Introduction
OTsec ANZ returns to Sydney on 15–16 September 2026, bringing together senior operational technology security professionals from across Australia and New Zealand. The summit addresses the increasingly complex challenge of protecting industrial control systems and critical infrastructure from cyber threats—a concern that has intensified as legacy OT environments become more connected to enterprise IT networks and external systems.
With critical infrastructure operators facing heightened regulatory scrutiny and sophisticated threat actors targeting industrial systems, the event provides a timely forum for security leaders to examine practical approaches to OT defence, governance frameworks, and cross-functional collaboration.
About This Event
Organised under the theme “The Secure Ecosystem: Aligning People, Standards, and Systems in OT,” the summit convenes more than 100 senior stakeholders from heavy industries including manufacturing, mining, energy, utilities, healthcare, and transport. The programme spans two days and features a combination of workshops, panel discussions, and roundtable sessions designed to facilitate knowledge exchange among practitioners facing similar operational challenges.
The event runs concurrently with the ANZ Cyber Summit, creating dual agendas that allow attendees to engage with both IT and OT security content. This co-hosted format reflects the growing recognition that effective industrial cybersecurity requires closer alignment between traditionally separate IT and OT security functions.
Securing Industrial Control Systems and SCADA Environments
Central to the summit’s agenda is the protection of industrial control systems and SCADA infrastructure—technologies that underpin essential services across energy generation, water treatment, manufacturing, and transport networks. These systems were historically designed for reliability and safety rather than cybersecurity, creating inherent vulnerabilities that modern threat actors increasingly exploit.
Discussions will examine how organisations can implement security controls without compromising the operational continuity that industrial environments demand. This balance remains one of the most persistent challenges in OT security, where unplanned downtime can have significant safety, environmental, and financial consequences.
IT/OT Convergence and Governance Challenges
The convergence of information technology and operational technology networks has accelerated digital transformation in industrial settings but has also expanded attack surfaces considerably. Many organisations struggle with fundamental questions of ownership and oversight—determining whether OT security falls under the remit of IT security teams, engineering departments, or dedicated OT security functions.
The summit addresses these governance challenges directly, exploring models for establishing clear accountability, developing appropriate risk management frameworks, and building the cross-functional relationships necessary for effective incident response. Sessions will draw on real-world case studies from heavy industries, providing practical insights into how organisations have navigated these structural challenges.
Regulatory Landscape and Standards Compliance
Critical infrastructure operators in Australia and New Zealand face an evolving regulatory environment, with governments increasingly mandating baseline security requirements for essential services. The summit provides an opportunity for security leaders to examine emerging compliance obligations and discuss how industry standards can be practically implemented within complex operational environments.
Understanding the relationship between regulatory requirements and operational realities is essential for organisations seeking to build security programmes that satisfy compliance obligations while genuinely reducing risk.
Who Should Attend
The summit is structured for senior professionals with direct responsibility for OT security strategy and implementation. This includes Chief Information Security Officers, Heads of Cyber Security, OT and ICS Managers, IT Security Managers, and senior engineers working within critical infrastructure and heavy industry. Attendees typically represent large enterprises and essential service operators where the consequences of security failures extend beyond data breaches to potential safety incidents and service disruptions.
Industry Participation
The event brings together technology providers specialising in OT security, including Yokogawa, Claroty, SensorFu, and Dragos—vendors whose platforms address visibility, threat detection, and risk management within industrial environments. Their participation alongside end-user organisations creates opportunities for practitioners to evaluate emerging solutions and discuss implementation experiences with peers facing comparable challenges.