Israeli Vendors Brace for RSAC 2026 Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict
As the ongoing conflict in the Middle East unfolds, Israeli vendors remain resolute in their plans to attend the upcoming RSAC 2026 (RSA Conference) in San Francisco. However, they may increasingly rely on their U.S. teams to handle staffing at this significant cybersecurity event. This situation stems from the evolving geopolitical climate, which has raised concerns about travel safety for personnel commuting between Israel and the United States.
The RSAC spokesperson reported that attendance plans from exhibitors, speakers, and attendees have, up to this point, been minimally impacted by the Iran war. Following restrictions imposed on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport—where flight departures are limited to just two aircraft per hour, with no more than 70 passengers allowed per flight—questions about air travel logistics have become paramount. This information was highlighted in a Friday article by The Times of Israel, which noted that these limitations are a direct result of missile and rocket attacks from both Iran and Lebanon.
The conflict escalated further last Saturday when a U.S.-Israel offensive on Iran left approximately 37,000 tourists stranded within Israel and around 120,000 Israelis unable to return from abroad, as the country’s airspace closed from Saturday until Wednesday night. Moreover, the limited flight schedules in the Persian Gulf, particularly in areas such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have added to the complexities of international travel.
Despite the uncertainties, some security firms, including Cato Networks and Check Point, remain optimistic regarding their staff’s ability to travel to San Francisco for RSAC within a fortnight. However, the final arrangements are contingent on safe travel conditions and airspace availability. Other companies, like Allot, have announced they will exclusively use U.S.-based workers to staff their RSAC presence, thereby sidestepping the travel limitations entirely.
Orca Security’s co-founder and CEO, Gil Geron, expressed confidence in their Israeli team’s ability to navigate this volatile situation. He emphasized that resilience has characterized the team’s efforts over the past two and a half years. The support they provide to each other underscores their commitment to fulfilling customer needs and sustaining business operations amidst geopolitical challenges.
Interestingly, a survey performed by IT-Harvest revealed that a significant portion of Orca’s 500 employees are located in Israel; although, key leadership operates primarily out of New York and Philadelphia. Many Israeli-founded cybersecurity companies often shift their headquarters to the U.S. once they achieve a substantial customer base, yet they retain their research and development operations in Israel to benefit from the nation’s skilled workforce.
Allot also confirmed their intent to participate in RSAC 2026, but with a focus on sending U.S.-based delegates. Currently, only 8% of Allot’s nearly 900 employees reside in the United States, while a majority are concentrated in Israel. This demographic trend is prevalent among Israeli cyber firms, which often localize their sales and marketing efforts in the U.S., the largest market for cybersecurity technology.
Radware has confirmed that its booth will be staffed by members of its U.S. sales and marketing teams. However, top management from Israel, including CEO Roy Zisapel, will also attend the conference, with one senior executive already outside the country. As of late December 2024, nearly half of Radware’s workforce is situated in Israel, similar to Check Point Software, which is home to 2,874 of its total 6,669 employees in Israel.
A spokesperson from Check Point reassured information security stakeholders that the company remains on track to execute its plans for RSAC 2026. They indicated that U.S. teams are leading the strategy and that Israeli team members will also participate when safe to do so. They stressed that operations would continue as planned.
Cato Networks has stated that while executives from Israel will attend RSAC 2026, they will not be making any considerable changes to their planned presence at the event. Two-thirds of Cato’s resource pool is based in Israel, with U.S. personnel constituting only 24%.
Cyera is intent on attending the conference, contingent on air travel safety and availability. The company plans to maintain a robust team presence, leveraging personnel across global offices to ensure coverage amid the crisis. Currently, more than half of Cyera’s workforce operates from the United States.
Finally, Silverfort confirmed its commitment to RSAC 2026 while indicating a willingness to reassess attendance plans closer to the event date. The company’s workforce is predominantly situated in Israel, but they remain supportive of their team members in navigating personal challenges during this tumultuous time.
As the RSAC 2026 approaches, the landscape of participation will be contingent not only on logistical arrangements but also on the evolving geopolitical climate. The resilience and adaptability of Israeli vendors in the face of adversity underscore the importance of international collaboration and innovation in cybersecurity.