Full Report
Kaspersky Lab has held the Industrial Cybersecurity: Safeguarding Technological Progress conference in Saint Petersburg. The conference was devoted to the most pressing issues associated with protecting modern industrial systems from cyberthreats. Its 300 guests and speakers represented more than 170 organizations from over 15 countries across the globe.
Analysis Summary
# Industry News: Kaspersky Concludes 5th Annual Industrial Cybersecurity Conference
## Summary
Kaspersky Lab hosted its fifth annual "Industrial Cybersecurity: Safeguarding Technological Progress" conference in Saint Petersburg, gathering 300 experts from 170 organizations across 15 countries. The event focused on the evolving threat landscape facing Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and the necessity of specialized security for modern technological infrastructures.
## Key Details
- **Date:** October 6, 2017
- **Companies Involved:** Kaspersky Lab (Host), plus 170 attending organizations (Global industrial and security firms)
- **Category:** Industry Conference / Market Leadership
## The Story
The conference served as a strategic platform for Kaspersky Lab to solidify its position as a thought leader in the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) security sectors. Against a backdrop of increasing cyber-physical attacks, the forum facilitated high-level discussions between government regulators, industrial operators, and cybersecurity vendors. Key themes included the integration of Operational Technology (OT) with Information Technology (IT), the security of the Internet of Things (IoT), and the specific regulatory challenges faced by global industrial enterprises.
## Business Impact
### For the Companies Involved
- **Kaspersky Lab:** Enhances its brand authority in the high-margin industrial sector, shifting focus from consumer AV to complex enterprise and industrial solutions.
- **Participating Organizations:** Gained early access to threat intelligence and peer-to-peer networking, potentially accelerating their internal security roadmaps.
### For Competitors
- Competitors (such as Claroty, Nozomi Networks, and Dragos) face a strengthened "incumbent" presence as Kaspersky leverages its global footprint to dominate the conversational space in the EMEA and APAC regions.
### For Customers
- Industrial operators benefit from a more cohesive ecosystem where security vendors and equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are aligning on standards and interoperability.
### For the Market
- Signal of a maturing ICS security market, moving from "awareness" toward "implementation and integration" of specialized security stacks within the factory floor.
## Technical Implications
Discussions highlighted the shift from "air-gapped" security myths to the reality of interconnected industrial environments (Industry 4.0). Innovation focus areas included non-intrusive monitoring, deep packet inspection (DPI) for industrial protocols, and the use of machine learning to detect anomalies in physical processes.
## Strategic Analysis
- **Market Positioning:** Kaspersky is positioning itself as an end-to-end industrial partner, moving beyond software to include training, incident response (ICS-CERT), and strategic consulting.
- **Competitive Advantage:** Their established Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) and dedicated ICS-CERT provide a proprietary intelligence loop that smaller startups struggle to match.
- **Challenges:** Geopolitical tension remains a significant headwind for Kaspersky in Western markets, requiring them to lean heavily into technical transparency and international collaboration.
## Industry Reactions
- **Expert Commentary:** Analysts note that the sheer diversity of attendees—representing 15 countries—indicates that industrial cybersecurity has moved from a niche technical concern to a top-tier geopolitical and economic priority.
- **Market Response:** Professional interest remains high, reflecting an urgent need for standardized frameworks in the OT space.
## Future Outlook
- **Predictions:** Expect a surge in partnerships between cybersecurity firms and industrial automation giants (like Siemens or Schneider Electric).
- **What to watch for:** Increased regulation regarding mandatory breach reporting for critical infrastructure and the rise of "secure-by-design" industrial hardware.
## For Security Professionals
Practitioners should note the converging skill sets required for modern roles: knowledge of traditional IT security is no longer sufficient without an understanding of PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) logic and industrial protocol safety. The focus is shifting toward "resilience"—ensuring physical processes continue even during an active digital compromise.