Poland is fighting a digital war, and no one is a civilian anymore. The Cybersec Expo & Forum 2026, the largest cybersecurity conference in Central and Eastern Europe, has started in Katowice. With a record 144 percent increase in cyber incidents last year and government spending exceeding PLN 5 billion in 2026, the event gathers policymakers, military, business and academics under the motto 'We are the firewall’.
The two-day conference at the International Congress Centre in Katowice is set to address everything from geopolitical challenges and technological sovereignty to practical implementation of the NIS2 directive and Poland’s new national cybersecurity framework.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski warned during the European Economic Congress that 2025 was a turning point. – We recorded 144 percent more cyber incidents than in 2024. Awareness about cybersecurity must be built because on a digital war – and Poland is on one – there are no civilians – he said.
Record cyber incidents and government response
The scale of the threat is clear: in 2025 Poland saw a surge in cyberattacks, many targeting critical infrastructure, healthcare and finance. The government responded with a record budget for 2026 – over PLN 5 billion, including more than PLN 700 million for digital skills alone. Funding comes from the state budget, the National Recovery Plan and EU digital development funds.
– Cybersecurity has ceased to be a topic only for IT departments. It is a matter of business continuity, state security and citizen trust – emphasised Aleksandra Helbin, editor-in-chief of WNP.
The 'We are the firewall’ agenda
The programme links four perspectives: strategic, regulatory, operational and technological. Debates centre on Europe’s cybersecurity sovereignty and the ability to build its own digital identity. A strong regulatory focus is placed on the amended National Cybersecurity System Act (implementing NIS2) and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).
Day one covers sessions on state and local government cybersecurity, defence partnerships, critical infrastructure protection, fighting disinformation and financing digital security. Day two focuses on competences and sector resilience – including energy, finance, healthcare and industry, as well as smart city challenges and the role of education.
Sector resilience and talent challenge
A key moment on the first day is the presentation of the third edition of the 'Cyberportret polskiego biznesu 2026′ report by ESET and DAGMA Bezpieczeństwo IT. It reveals the scale and complexity of challenges Polish organisations face in cyberspace. In the evening, the Cybersec Awards gala will honour individuals and organisations setting new standards in digital protection – from visionaries and young innovators to critical infrastructure defenders.
The conference also tackles the military-civilian talent gap, the role of CISO and CIO, dual-use technologies and Poland’s potential as an exporter of cybersecurity solutions. With the mantra 'We are the firewall’, the message is clear: everyone has a role in building Poland’s digital resilience.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PTWP
