The summit brought together government representatives, cybersecurity experts and technology companies to discuss AI security, critical infrastructure protection and financial-sector risks as Uzbekistan implements its 2026–2030 cybersecurity strategy.
The event focused on protecting critical infrastructure, securing financial services, managing risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and strengthening cybersecurity capabilities across Central Asia and neighbouring regions.
CSS2026 attracted more than 600 delegates, including over 300 chief information security officers (CISOs) and more than 100 solution providers. Overall participation increase by more than 25% compared with 2025, reflecting growing interest in cybersecurity across the region.
The strategy sets priorities for strengthening national cyber resilience, protecting critical digital infrastructure, combating cybercrime, developing AI-based cybersecurity capabilities and expanding international cooperation.
Regional cooperation at the centre of cybersecurity
Participants highlighted that cyber threats increasingly cross national borders, making cooperation between governments, businesses and international organisations essential.
Marle Maigre of Estonia’s e-Governance Academy IEGA) said the summit had grown in scale and provided an important opportunity to connect regional stakeholders with international partners. She noted that the EGA and Expertise France were bringing partners involved in the EU’s financial-sector cybersecurity programme to the event, reflecting the importance of regional and international cooperation.
“Ultimately, cybersecurity is about trust,” Maigre said, highlighting the value of meeting counterparts, building professional relationships and exchanging ideas. “We value the importance of regional and international cooperation.”
She added that the summit creates opportunities for bilateral and multilateral discussions involving both governments and the private sector.
According to Maigre, such platforms can help strengthen cooperation across Central Asia while connecting regional cybersecurity communities with international expertise.
A similar view was expressed by H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain’s National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC). He stressed that cooperation among Central Eurasian countries could significantly strengthen the region’s collective resilience, while international engagement allows participants to learn from experiences beyond their own national systems.
“This kind of summits are the opportunity to learn from each other, learn from successors regionally and globally,” H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa added.
Al Khalifa also stressed that cybersecurity requires continuous effort rather than a one-time response or the adoption of a strategy alone. Effective protection depends on the ongoing work of cybersecurity specialists, operational teams and developers.
Addressing increasingly complex digital threats
The summit’s agenda reflected the expanding range of cybersecurity challenges facing governments and businesses. Discussions covered AI security, critical infrastructure, information technology and operational technology (IT/OT) security, financial services and the development of a skilled cybersecurity workforce.
The programme also included a dedicated discussion of Uzbekistan’s 2026–2030 cybersecurity strategy, examining its implications for the national cybersecurity ecosystem and the lessons that could be drawn from international partners.
Other sessions focused on protecting banking and financial services, securing industrial facilities and networks, and developing education, training and professional certification for cybersecurity specialists.
Benedicte Borel of Expertise France emphasised that cybersecurity challenges cannot be addressed effectively through isolated. She noted that the organisation was implementing a cybersecurity project in Central Asia with partners including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The summit, she explained, offered an opportunity to meet regional partners, exchange expertise and connect with companies developing cybersecurity solutions.
Borel also pointed to the constantly changing and increasingly sophisticated nature of cyber threats, which requires technology providers to continue developing solutions and experts to maintain regular cooperation.
From strategy to implementation
Uzbekistan’s cybersecurity strategy provides an important policy context for the discussions. Its implementation involves strengthening institutional capacity, improving protection for critical digital infrastructure and introducing additional cybersecurity requirements for organisations covered by the strategy.
For government institutions, financial organisations and technology companies, these priorities raise practical questions about compliance, investment, skills and the adoption of new security technologies.
The summit provided a platform for public-sector representatives, private companies and international partners to discuss these challenges and explore areas for cooperation.
The interviews also highlighted a common message: cybersecurity resilience depends not only on technology and national strategies, but also on trust, information-sharing and sustained collaboration.
As digital services and AI applications become more widely used, cooperation between countries and across industries is likely to remain a key element of efforts to protect the region’s digital infrastructure.