Verdane Cybersecurity Day 2026

Start the day with coffee and informal networking.

We’ll kick off with a short introduction and share how Verdane views cybersecurity not only as downside protection, but as a key enabler of value creation. We will reflect on lessons learned from working with a large number of portfolio companies—what works, what doesn’t—and how security leaders need to adapt as AI increasingly reshapes how companies are built and operated.

This session explores how cybersecurity has evolved from a risk factor into a value lever in M&A. Ori will share how cyber strategy influences valuation, due diligence, and post-acquisition value creation, including how to assess both risks and opportunities, secure value from day one, and how AI is reshaping the M&A landscape.

Participants will be grouped based on industry, company size, and tech stack to connect with peers in similar situations. The discussion will be focused on secure AI adoption — what tools are actually being used across the portfolio, how AI can be used to strengthen security and support the security role and how to navigate the governance and risk questions that come with it.

Lunch will be served at Giro next door.

Representatives from Booksy, Sitoo, and Talentech will share practical experiences from their cybersecurity journeys. The session will provide a cross-industry perspective on challenges, lessons learned, and what has driven real impact across different company types and maturity levels.

This session walks through real vulnerabilities and misconfigurations identified in customer environments and demonstrates how they translate into actual exploitation and business impact. It provides a practical perspective on how seemingly minor issues can escalate into serious security incidents.

Refreshments will be available before the final sessions.

• TrendAI - Cloud Security CTF (Hands-on) A hands-on Capture the Flag exercise where participants solve practical challenges in a simulated cloud environment, exploring how attackers exploit misconfigurations, insecure identities, and exposed services, and how to detect and remediate these weaknesses in real time.
• TrendAI - From Reactive to Proactive Security (Roundtable) An interactive roundtable focused on how organizations can move beyond reactive defences towards a more proactive approach to risk management and compliance, sharing practical strategies and real-world experiences across participants.
• Defendable - Interactive Workshop: Hacking an Online Store A hands-on workshop using a simulated online store where participants explore common vulnerabilities identified in real assessments, supported by guided walkthroughs and expert input throughout the session.
  To participate you’ll need a laptop with administrator privileges or a Virtual Machine installed. This is needed to use the VPN software for accessing the lab environment. If you want to be fully prepared, you can install OpenVPN and Burp Suite Community edition before the event.
  
• Sophos - Identity: The New Security Perimeter (Live Simulation) A live end-to-end attack simulation showing how attackers steal credentials, escalate privileges, bypass MFA, and move from initial access to full business impact, while highlighting which identity signals matter most for detection and response.
• Elevate - AI Hackathon A collaborative session focused on identifying and testing practical AI use cases within cybersecurity and daily operations, where participants work in small groups to explore challenges, develop solutions, and validate ideas using modern AI tools.

We’ll close the day with key takeaways, a short wrap-up and a feedback survey.

Join us for informal networking and drinks.

We’ll return to the lounge area for a relaxed dinner.