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2026 Cybersecurity Summit
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
October 21–22, 2026
About the Summit
The 2026 Cybersecurity Summit at Harrisburg University brings together industry leaders, practitioners, educators, students, and policymakers to explore the evolving cyber threat landscape, emerging technologies, workforce readiness, and the future of cyber risk and resilience.
As a flagship event, the summit emphasizes applied learning through real-world cyber operations, fosters cross-sector collaboration between academia, government, and industry, and advances workforce development aligned to national frameworks such as NIST, NICE, and the DoD Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF). It is designed to strengthen both strategic and technical readiness for modern cyber threats while promoting meaningful dialogue across disciplines.
The 2026 Harrisburg University Cybersecurity Summit Experience
The 2026 Harrisburg University Cybersecurity Summit Experience is intentionally designed as a two-day, mission-driven event that blends immersive, real-world cyber operations with strategic insight and knowledge sharing.
Day 1 will feature a technical cyber exercise / capture the flag event conducted in a simulated cyber range environment, providing participants with a realistic, high-pressure environment to simulate modern cyber threats and response operations. Technical teams will engage in hands-on cybersecurity activities, threat detection, and incident response scenarios that mirror real-world adversary tactics. Running in parallel, an executive-level Tabletop Exercise (TTX) will bring together senior leaders, policymakers, and decision-makers to navigate the strategic, legal, and operational challenges of a cyber incident. This dual-track approach ensures alignment between technical execution and executive decision-making, highlighting the critical importance of coordination across all levels of an organization during a cyber crisis. At the conclusion of Day 1 events, there will be a community wide cybersecurity awareness “Outrun the Hackers” 5k run/walk event hosted by Harrisburg University (details to be announced) as well as a Speaker/Summit social event.
Day 2 transitions from execution to insight, offering a dynamic, multi-track conference experience featuring expert-led sessions, panels, and interactive discussions. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge topics across cybersecurity operations, risk and governance, artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure protection, workforce development, and more. Sessions will emphasize practical application, real-world case studies, and actionable takeaways, allowing participants to translate lessons learned from the exercise into improved strategies, policies, and technical practices within their own organizations.
We invite thought leaders, practitioners, researchers, and educators to submit proposals that inform, challenge, and inspire a diverse and mission-driven audience, contributing to a summit experience that bridges theory and practice while advancing cybersecurity readiness across sectors.
Who Should Submit
We welcome proposals from:
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Cybersecurity practitioners and technical experts
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CISOs, CIOs, and executive leaders
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Government and public-sector professionals (federal, state, local)
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Faculty, researchers, and students
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Workforce development and industry training leaders
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Non-profit and community cybersecurity organizations
Vendor participation is welcome for educational, non-sales presentations.
Conference Topic Areas
To support a diverse audience and mission-focused outcomes, the summit is organized into the following flagship topics:
Topic 1: Applied Cyber Defense and Offensive Security
(Practitioner / Technical Focus)
Hands-on, operational cybersecurity aligned with real-world defense and adversary tactics.
Suggested Topics:
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Cybersecurity practitioners and technical experts
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CISOs, CIOs, and executive leaders
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Government and public-sector professionals (federal, state, local)
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Faculty, researchers, and students
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Workforce development and industry training leaders
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Non-profit and community cybersecurity organizations
Preferred Formats: Technical talks, live demos, labs, simulations
Topic 2: Cyber Risk, Governance, Policy, Law, Ethics & Executive Leadership
(Executive / Strategic Focus)
Cybersecurity as enterprise risk, decision-making, and leadership responsibility. Navigating the legal and ethical dimensions of cybersecurity.
Suggested Topics:
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Translating cyber risk to executive stakeholders
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Cyber risk quantification and metrics
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Governance models and CISO leadership
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Regulatory compliance and cyber liability
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Cyber insurance and financial risk
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Executive decision-making during active incidents
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Data privacy laws and regulatory trends
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Legal implications of cyber incidents
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AI ethics and governance
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Public-sector cybersecurity policy challenges
Topic 3: Public Sector, Operational Technology, & Critical Infrastructure Security
(Government / Infrastructure Focus)
Hands-on, operational cybersecurity aligned with real-world defense and adversary tactics.
Suggested Topics:
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State and local government cyber readiness
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Election security and public trust
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OT/ICS security (energy, water, transportation)
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Smart cities and infrastructure protection
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Supply chain risk in government systems
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Federal–state–local cyber collaboration models
Topic 4: AI, Identity, & Emerging Technologies
(Innovation / Future-Focused)
Exploring how emerging technologies are transforming cyber defense and risk.
Suggested Topics:
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AI for cybersecurity operations and automation
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Adversarial AI and model security
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Deepfakes, synthetic media, and misinformation
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AI governance and ethics
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Secure AI/ML pipelines
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Identity and access management (IAM)
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Zero Trust architectures
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Data governance & privacy engineering
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Post-quantum cryptography
Topic 5: Incident Response, Crisis Leadership, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Global Security Trends & Resilience
(Operational + Leadership Integration)
Preparing organizations to respond, recover, and lead through cyber crises. Understanding the global threat landscape and intelligence-driven defense.
Suggested Topics:
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Ransomware response and recovery strategies (real-world case studies)
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Incident response planning and execution
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Crisis leadership and decision-making
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Cybersecurity preparation and lessons learned from America’s 250 events, FIFA World Cup, NFL Draft, Olympics, etc.
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Business continuity and disaster recovery
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Post-incident recovery and lessons learned
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Cyber resilience engineering
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Nation-state, APT activity, cyber warfare and geopolitics
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Cyber threat intelligence lifecycle
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Information sharing (ISACs, InfraGard, PA CyberCom, Fusion Centers)
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Dark web monitoring and analysis
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Threat intel platforms & workflows
Topic 6: Cyber Workforce, Education & Talent Pipelines
(Education / Workforce Development)
Upscaling our cybersecurity workforce and building the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Suggested Topics:
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Cyber workforce development strategies
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K–12 to post-secondary cybersecurity education to workforce pipeline programs
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Certifications and micro-credentials
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Apprenticeships and internships
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Academia–industry partnerships
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Diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity
Session Formats
Proposals may be submitted in the following formats:
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Breakout Sessions: 45–60 minutes
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Panels: 60 minutes
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Hands-On Workshops / Labs: 90 minutes
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Lightning Talks: 15–20 minutes
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Student Research / Poster Sessions
Submission Guidelines
Proposals should include:
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Session title and abstract (clear, concise, and engaging)
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Topic selection
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Target audience (technical, executive, student, etc.)
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Learning objectives and takeaways
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Speaker biography and credentials
Evaluation Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on:
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Relevance to topic and audience
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Practical applicability and real-world value
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Clarity, originality, and engagement potential
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Balance of technical depth and accessibility
Why Participate
Selected speakers will:
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Contribute to a flagship cybersecurity event in Pennsylvania
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Engage with leaders across government, industry, and academia
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Influence workforce development and cyber readiness
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Showcase thought leadership and innovation
Benefits for Speaking at HU:
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Featured keynote positioning to help set the tone for the conference
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Promotion across our marketing, social, and university networks
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A dedicated speaker spotlight leading up to the event
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A curated audience and business leaders
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Access to a full recording of your session
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Opportunities for interaction beyond the stage (roundtable, small group, etc.)
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Space for you to connect more directly with attendees (table/booth if helpful)
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A path to continue working together beyond just this event
Join Us
Be part of a cybersecurity summit that is not just a conference, but a mission-driven cybersecurity experience preparing organizations, leaders, and future professionals for the evolving cyber landscape.
Submission Deadline: July 15, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: August 15, 2026
For questions or inquiries, please contact: Professional Development at ProfessionalEd@HarrisburgU.edu.
