Cybersecurity, Stronger Together 2026 Conference

George Washington University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS) in partnership with The Cyber Guild (TCG) are hosts of , an annual gathering of industry leaders, leaders from cybersecurity, operational technology (OT), kinetic security, and political management to examine the evolving intersection of digital and physical threats.

This year’s conference will unfold against the backdrop of the 2026 Olympics, an electrifying, large-scale public event that sets the stage for a realistic cyberattack on critical operational technology systems.

Attendees will be immersed in a thought-provoking, multi-stage attack scenario brought to life through video segments. After each stage, top industry and government thought leaders will take the stage to unpack what transpired, revealing the ripple effects, lessons learned, and proactive strategies to strengthen our collective defenses.

This immersive format transforms the audience from observers into active participants, deepening understanding of how cyber incidents can escalate into national-scale crises. Beyond the scenario, the conference offers robust networking opportunities for collaboration and idea exchange, as well as the opportunity to earn continuing education units (CEUs) for professional advancement.

Register now through January 15 for the $99 early bird special!

*Photos and videos may be taken at the event. This content may be shared in various ways within GW and on external platforms.

Panel 1: The High-Stakes Scorecard: Proactive Risk Assessment for Major Event

This panel sets the foundational tone, moving beyond general cyber hygiene to address the specific, amplified threats posed by large-scale, globally visible events. Using the 2026 World Cup and Olympic Games as our lens, this session delves into the complexities of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing cyber-physical risks across the entire event ecosystem.

Panel 2: The Critical Chain Reaction: Mapping Dependencies and Challenging Assumptions

This panel serves as the bridge, translating the risks identified in Panel 1 into a tangible discussion of systemic vulnerabilities and planning blind spots. Every major event runs on a complex, interconnected web of systems, yet rarely is the full chain of critical dependencies mapped and tested. This session drills down on the "what if" scenarios, challenging common assumptions that underpin security and resilience planning. Using the backdrop of the World Cup and Olympics, panelists will dissect the hidden linkages between public infrastructure (power, water, transportation), event-specific technology (ticketing, venue comms), and third-party vendors.

Panel 3: Moving at the Speed of the Crisis: Integrated Incident Response and Recovery

This panel culminates the conference, focusing on the moment of truth: coordinated, rapid, and effective response when the inevitable occurs. When a cyber intrusion escalates into a kinetic crisis—disrupting power, transportation, or public safety at a major event—a unified, cross-domain response is essential. This panel shifts the focus from prevention to action, examining the operational, policy, and political dimensions of managing a catastrophic incident.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher GW College of Professional Studies