Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- One-day summit focused on operational technology security for Saudi Arabia’s critical infrastructure sectors
- Addresses OT/ICS cybersecurity strategy, regulatory compliance including IEC 62443, and national security mandates
- Covers threat landscape challenges including nation-state actors, ransomware, and IT/OT convergence risks
- Designed for CISOs, engineering directors, government policymakers, and critical infrastructure operators
- Explores emerging technologies including AI, digital twins, and predictive security applications in industrial environments
Industrial Cybersecurity Leadership Convenes in Jubail
OT Security Jubail 2026 brings together operational technology security professionals, plant-level CISOs, and critical infrastructure defenders for a focused examination of industrial cybersecurity challenges facing Saudi Arabia’s most vital sectors. Organised by Events First Group as part of its OT Security First series, the summit takes place in Jubail, one of the Kingdom’s most strategically important industrial centres, home to extensive petrochemical, energy, and manufacturing operations.
The timing reflects heightened attention to industrial control system vulnerabilities across the Gulf region. As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 objectives, the digital transformation of industrial operations has expanded attack surfaces while simultaneously increasing the consequences of successful intrusions. Legacy SCADA systems now operate alongside modern networked infrastructure, creating complex security environments that demand specialised expertise.
About This Event
The summit operates as an invitation-only gathering structured around keynote presentations, panel discussions, and facilitated networking. Sessions span both strategic and technical dimensions of OT security, addressing governance frameworks alongside practical implementation challenges. The format prioritises direct engagement between government representatives, industrial operators, and technology specialists working to secure control systems in high-consequence environments.
Yokogawa serves as Gold Sponsor, with SIS as Associate Sponsor and Axidian as Panel Sponsor. Supporting partners include the ISACA Riyadh Chapter and Maadaniyah, reflecting the collaborative approach between industry associations and commercial entities in advancing OT security practices.
Threat Landscape and Regulatory Pressures
Industrial control systems face an increasingly sophisticated threat environment. Nation-state actors have demonstrated sustained interest in critical infrastructure targets, while ransomware operators have expanded beyond traditional IT environments into operational technology networks where disruption carries physical consequences. The convergence of IT and OT systems, while enabling operational efficiencies, has introduced pathways for threats to traverse previously isolated industrial networks.
Regulatory frameworks have evolved in response. IEC 62443 provides an international standard for industrial automation security, while national authorities have introduced OT-specific mandates requiring operators to demonstrate compliance across asset inventory, access control, and incident response capabilities. For organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions, reconciling these requirements presents ongoing governance challenges.
Technical Focus Areas
Discussion topics address the full lifecycle of industrial security operations. Securing programmable logic controllers and SCADA systems remains foundational, particularly where legacy equipment lacks native security capabilities. The summit examines approaches to protecting both brownfield installations with decades-old control systems and greenfield facilities designed with security considerations from inception.
Emerging technologies feature prominently in the programme. Digital twins offer potential for security testing and anomaly detection without risking production systems, while AI-driven predictive analytics may enable earlier identification of compromise indicators in industrial networks. Supply chain security receives dedicated attention, recognising that vulnerabilities in third-party components and vendor access represent significant risk vectors for industrial operators.
Who Should Attend
The summit serves senior professionals responsible for industrial cybersecurity decisions. This includes CISOs and security directors overseeing OT environments, engineering leaders managing control system infrastructure, and risk and compliance executives navigating regulatory requirements. Government policymakers and national cybersecurity authority representatives participate alongside private sector attendees, facilitating dialogue between regulators and regulated entities.
Technology providers, system integrators, and consultancies working in the OT security space will find opportunities to engage with end-user organisations across oil and gas, petrochemicals, energy, utilities, manufacturing, and transport sectors. The curated attendance model aims to ensure substantive exchanges between practitioners facing similar operational challenges.
Building Collaborative Defence
Cross-border intelligence sharing and public-private collaboration emerge as recurring themes throughout the programme. Industrial cybersecurity increasingly requires coordinated response capabilities that extend beyond individual organisations. The summit provides a forum for establishing relationships that support information exchange when incidents occur, recognising that threats targeting one operator often indicate broader campaigns affecting entire sectors.