Cybertech Global Tel Aviv 2024: The Litmus Test of Israeli Cyber
The visitors who arrived at Pavilion 2 at the Expo in Tel Aviv witnessed Israel's robust cybersecurity industry, which even six months of combat couldn't deter
Chen Burshan
| 17/04/2024
Photo credit: Cybertech
The CyberTech conference of 2024, long considered the most significant event in the local industry, was supposed to mark its tenth year with great fanfare. The event, which began last decade as an Israeli affair for Israelis, has over time become a showroom for the cyber industry, where giant established companies like Check Point showcase alongside entirely new startups that are seeing the light of day and meeting customers for the first time.
But we know what happened in Israel as of October 7th. Cybertech was postponed from its traditional January date to April. The postponement (and the tense security situation in the country) raised many concerns among exhibitors and visitors, leading some to cancel their planned participation in the conference.
In the end, the conference took place last week in a wintry yet pleasant atmosphere, and was crowned a success. Although the number of exhibiting companies was smaller than in previous years (investment funds, which in previous years had raised significant interest in promoting their companies and even a bit of showing off, were notably absent). So too was the number of international visitors.
Still, the visitors who came to Pavilion 2 at the Expo in Tel Aviv were able to see Israel's cybersecurity industry, which even six months of combat couldn't prevent.
The exhibition was divided into three sections. In the conference area, visitors listened to lectures and presentations, including from Gabi Portnoy, Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, who stated that "the intensity of cyber-attacks against Israel has increased threefold since the beginning of the war."
Portnoy also revealed details about the hacking group "Black Shadow" that operated against entities in the country. The group operates under the cover of a private company in Tehran but in practice works for the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence.
Additional sessions focused on protecting healthcare systems, communication systems, cyber entrepreneurship, and investments, hosting diverse speakers such as Yossi Vardi, Gil Shwed, and officials from the cyber mechanisms of countries like Germany, Lithuania, India, and more.
In the main exhibition hall, well-known Israeli companies such as CyberArk and Check Point were showcased alongside foreign companies with research centers in the country (such as Proofpoint, Intel, and Thales), as well as established startups. However, the most interesting part of the exhibition was the startup area, which featured dozens of young and lesser-known companies, many of which were presenting products in new product categories.
This year’s emphasis was on cloud security, with a focus on threat detection and real-time mitigation, as well as the use of artificial intelligence for identifying and neutralizing attacks.
The beauty of the "Start Pavilion," as it's commonly called, is the directness with which you can engage with the startup team members and hear from them about their products.
Since admission to the exhibition is free, there's an interesting mix of end customers (information security professionals), soldiers from technological units interested in products (and also exploring post-service job opportunities), students, other startups scouting the market, representatives of giant companies seeking innovative solutions, and investors. Last but not least are high school students from various cybersecurity programs, who came to the conference to immerse themselves in the industry that might become their future home in a few years.
It was exciting to see that even at the busiest booth, full attention to everyone was devoted, especially the younger visitors, who received comprehensive explanations regarding the showcased solutions. Such an educational atmosphere cannot be found at any other cybersecurity conference in the world.
Of course, it was impossible to completely disconnect from the current situation in the country. Both Israelis and foreign visitors were exposed to a poignant, emotional display that included 133 empty chairs with the names of the 133 hostages, prominently placed, reminding everyone that the war is not over.
This duality between "business as usual" and "war situation" was keenly felt at the conference. Some argued that it created a depressing atmosphere. I choose to look at the positive: Despite the challenges, the industry continues to operate, conferences are held, people express confidence in the country and the cybersecurity sector, and attendees come from abroad despite the concerns. This indicates that we have a particularly resilient and robust industry here that will know how to navigate the current crisis and emerge from it even stronger.
We are all hopeful that until the next Cybertech Tel Aviv, sometime in 2025, the war will be behind us, the hostages will be back home, and the industry will resume its growth.
It will be interesting to see which technologies and products related to warfare will be developed and showcased at the next conference. One thing is for sure – there is a lot to look forward to.
The visitors who arrived at Pavilion 2 at the Expo in Tel Aviv witnessed Israel's robust cybersecurity industry, which even six months of combat couldn't deter
Photo credit: Cybertech
The CyberTech conference of 2024, long considered the most significant event in the local industry, was supposed to mark its tenth year with great fanfare. The event, which began last decade as an Israeli affair for Israelis, has over time become a showroom for the cyber industry, where giant established companies like Check Point showcase alongside entirely new startups that are seeing the light of day and meeting customers for the first time.
But we know what happened in Israel as of October 7th. Cybertech was postponed from its traditional January date to April. The postponement (and the tense security situation in the country) raised many concerns among exhibitors and visitors, leading some to cancel their planned participation in the conference.
In the end, the conference took place last week in a wintry yet pleasant atmosphere, and was crowned a success. Although the number of exhibiting companies was smaller than in previous years (investment funds, which in previous years had raised significant interest in promoting their companies and even a bit of showing off, were notably absent). So too was the number of international visitors.
Still, the visitors who came to Pavilion 2 at the Expo in Tel Aviv were able to see Israel's cybersecurity industry, which even six months of combat couldn't prevent.
The exhibition was divided into three sections. In the conference area, visitors listened to lectures and presentations, including from Gabi Portnoy, Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, who stated that "the intensity of cyber-attacks against Israel has increased threefold since the beginning of the war."
Portnoy also revealed details about the hacking group "Black Shadow" that operated against entities in the country. The group operates under the cover of a private company in Tehran but in practice works for the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence.
Additional sessions focused on protecting healthcare systems, communication systems, cyber entrepreneurship, and investments, hosting diverse speakers such as Yossi Vardi, Gil Shwed, and officials from the cyber mechanisms of countries like Germany, Lithuania, India, and more.
In the main exhibition hall, well-known Israeli companies such as CyberArk and Check Point were showcased alongside foreign companies with research centers in the country (such as Proofpoint, Intel, and Thales), as well as established startups. However, the most interesting part of the exhibition was the startup area, which featured dozens of young and lesser-known companies, many of which were presenting products in new product categories.
This year’s emphasis was on cloud security, with a focus on threat detection and real-time mitigation, as well as the use of artificial intelligence for identifying and neutralizing attacks.
The beauty of the "Start Pavilion," as it's commonly called, is the directness with which you can engage with the startup team members and hear from them about their products.
Since admission to the exhibition is free, there's an interesting mix of end customers (information security professionals), soldiers from technological units interested in products (and also exploring post-service job opportunities), students, other startups scouting the market, representatives of giant companies seeking innovative solutions, and investors. Last but not least are high school students from various cybersecurity programs, who came to the conference to immerse themselves in the industry that might become their future home in a few years.
It was exciting to see that even at the busiest booth, full attention to everyone was devoted, especially the younger visitors, who received comprehensive explanations regarding the showcased solutions. Such an educational atmosphere cannot be found at any other cybersecurity conference in the world.
Of course, it was impossible to completely disconnect from the current situation in the country. Both Israelis and foreign visitors were exposed to a poignant, emotional display that included 133 empty chairs with the names of the 133 hostages, prominently placed, reminding everyone that the war is not over.
This duality between "business as usual" and "war situation" was keenly felt at the conference. Some argued that it created a depressing atmosphere. I choose to look at the positive: Despite the challenges, the industry continues to operate, conferences are held, people express confidence in the country and the cybersecurity sector, and attendees come from abroad despite the concerns. This indicates that we have a particularly resilient and robust industry here that will know how to navigate the current crisis and emerge from it even stronger.
We are all hopeful that until the next Cybertech Tel Aviv, sometime in 2025, the war will be behind us, the hostages will be back home, and the industry will resume its growth.
It will be interesting to see which technologies and products related to warfare will be developed and showcased at the next conference. One thing is for sure – there is a lot to look forward to.
