Cyber Resilience Summit highlights urgency of strengthening Malta’s digital defences

Gaining access to company data can take “less than one second,” according to cybersecurity experts speaking at the Cyber Resilience Summit 2026.

The half-day event, held on 17th March at The Notch Conference Centre in San Ġwann, brought together cybersecurity specialists, business leaders, and decision-makers to discuss the increasing speed and sophistication of digital attacks and their implications for Maltese businesses.

Organised by EWORLD in collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Veeam Software, and Palo Alto Networks, the summit focused on how organisations can better prepare for and respond to cyber incidents in an increasingly connected environment.

During the event, speakers highlighted the rapid pace at which cyber breaches can occur. Vladimir Chiritescu, Senior Systems Engineer at Veeam Software, cautioned that gaining access to company data can take “less than one second,” stressing that even a single click on a malicious link can expose systems regardless of existing protections.

Other speakers, including Dionisis Veizis of Palo Alto Networks and Milenko Markov of HPE, emphasised the importance of layered security frameworks, resilient infrastructure, and robust business continuity planning. These elements, they noted, are essential for organisations not only to defend against attacks but also to recover quickly when incidents occur.

Opening the summit via a recorded message, Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects Silvio Schembri underlined the broader economic significance of cybersecurity. He stated that cybersecurity is no longer solely an IT concern but a “core business imperative,” requiring active engagement from industry leaders and professionals.

The discussions reflected a broader shift in how cybersecurity is perceived, with increasing recognition that resilience, rather than prevention alone, is key to maintaining operational continuity in the face of evolving threats.

As Malta continues to digitise its economy and expand its technology-driven sectors, organisations must invest in stronger, more adaptive cybersecurity strategies to safeguard their data, operations, and long-term competitiveness.