Round Tables

When it comes to a specialist conference, it is not only the lecturers’ quality that matters but it is also important to exchange experiences with other participants who are in similar positions and deal with similar issues. IT-Defense offers a clear framework to discuss security issues and topics with other participating security experts.

Participants can discuss their own problems and other profound issues in small groups. For this purpose, IT-Defense lecturers serve as moderators; however, it is also possible to form individual groups on specific subjects.

Simultaneous round-table discussions will be available on Friday, January 29, 2026.

Kittens War – Iran’s Cyberwar and Its Consequences for the West – Volker Kozok

The round table provides insight into Iran’s hybrid warfare and highlights the close cooperation between Iranian authorities and cybercrime groups known to as “Kitten”. Examples are used to explain the attackers’ methods and describe the malware they use. Due to their ties to Israel and the United States and the large Iranian exile community, German companies and government agencies are targeted by Iranian attacks.

Between Liability and Hacker Defense: Mine Clearance for Admins – Dr. Christoph Wegener & Joerg Heidrich

Admins defend their systems against attackers, but the real danger sometimes comes from the legal department. Immutable backups reliably block ransomware – but unfortunately, they also block the GDPR’s right to erasure. Logging based on the “store until the disk is full” principle delights forensic experts and eventually the supervisory authority as well. And anyone who launches one too many tools during a system analysis will find themselves on the verge of violating hacker-related laws faster than they would like. A security practitioner and an attorney specializing in IT law guide you through the areas of conflict in day-to-day operations. Topics include BYOD, where the company mobile phone suddenly becomes a private matter, and instructions from management that you would rather have in writing. Add to that employee monitoring, the shared root password as a compliance violation and the question of how much AI IT operations can tolerate before the data protection officer raises an eyebrow. Using real-life cases and recent court rulings, the two demonstrate how security and the law fit together. They also explain why thorough documentation is the most affordable liability insurance an admin can get.

Artificial Intelligence and IT Security – Fend-off Attacks, Strengthen Defenses and Manage Risks – Stefan Strobel

AI changes cyber security on both sides: Attackers are using AI for new and more efficient methods of attack while new possibilities for defense arise at the same time.

This round table will feature practical discussions on:

How can we protect ourselves from AI-based attacks?
How can we use AI for defense and detection of attacks?
What risks arise when we use AI ourselves?
What new tools and technologies can help ensure the safe use of AI?

The round table provides you with a compact overview of current threats, security measures and new approaches regarding artificial intelligence.