Dragos Inc. recently organized its first Dragos Europe Forum at the iconic Battersea Power Station in London. The forum served as a platform for experts from the operational technology (OT) community to come together and share insights, ideas, and network with each other. The event was not only a celebration of the growing OT cybersecurity community in Europe but also highlighted Dragos’s commitment to the region.
The three-day event, held from June 26-28, also included training sessions and workshops for the attendees. It aimed to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle the ever-evolving challenges in the field of OT cybersecurity.
The highlight of the event was the keynote address by Dragos CEO and Co-Founder Robert M. Lee. He emphasized the urgency of taking immediate action to improve industrial control systems (ICS) and OT cybersecurity. Lee highlighted the crucial role that cybersecurity plays in ensuring operational resilience.
The forum featured sessions led by experts from Dragos, partners, as well as OT asset owners and operators. These sessions covered a wide range of topics, including OT incident response, the role of cybersecurity in plant operations, and the introduction of PIPEDREAM, the first OT attack framework capable of impacting all industrial sectors through multiple deployments. Another key topic discussed was how to establish an OT Security Operations Center (SOC). The attendees also had the opportunity to participate in specialized training and workshops.
PIPEDREAM, the groundbreaking OT attack framework, was first revealed in Dragos’ annual Year in Review report. The framework has the potential to significantly impact industrial sectors worldwide, making it a critical development in the field of OT cybersecurity.
Tony Atkins, the Area Vice President for Europe and Africa at Dragos, highlighted the importance of the forum in helping industrial owners and operators enhance their ICS/OT cybersecurity posture. He emphasized the value of sharing lessons learned, best practices, and practical approaches within the community. Atkins expressed his excitement about next year’s event and the continued fostering of this community.
The inaugural Dragos Europe Forum saw around 150 OT asset owners and operators attending from 16 different countries. The choice of the Battersea Power Station as the venue held significance as it symbolized the energy industry’s early adoption of cybersecurity protection. The station, which took three years to supply energy to London, represents determination, while its over 30 years of completion signifies longevity. These values align with Dragos’ mission to safeguard civilization in the immediate future and the long term.
The Dragos Europe Forum was a notable event in the field of OT cybersecurity. It provided a platform for professionals to come together, exchange knowledge, and collaborate towards building a resilient and secure OT environment. With its focus on training, workshops, and addressing the most pressing challenges facing the industry, the event played a crucial role in furthering the OT cybersecurity community in Europe. Dragos’ commitment to the region was evident through this successful forum, and the company looks forward to future events that will continue to foster this community.