Held ahead of the Smart Country Convention, “The Resilient Organization” brought together three expert talks and an executive roundtable. The program connected perspectives on cybersecurity, automation, and cloud technology with experience in the energy sector and critical infrastructure.
“We’re here to stay.”
- Christopher Anderlik, EVP, EBCONT
Christopher Anderlik’s statement referred to EBCONT’s new Berlin office and reflected a central theme of the event: Maintaining the freedom to make technology choices requires a long-term commitment and a responsible approach to using that freedom.
Security Monitoring Must Include Operational Technology
Thomas Sinnwell of consistec examined the role of security monitoring in a cybersecurity strategy. He highlighted a common blind spot: Organizations often have good visibility into their IT environments while paying less attention to operational technology, or OT.
Some of these environments still rely on systems that have not been updated in more than a decade. Aging components can pose significant security risks. Effective prevention therefore requires visibility across both IT and OT. Monitoring provides the foundation for detecting unusual activity early and targeting security measures where they are needed.
Automation Needs Clear Governance
Robert Haarmeyer of Tines explored the relationship between automation and AI governance. He illustrated how AI-powered workflows can reduce avoidable errors and help IT and security teams work more efficiently.
As organizations adopt AI, they also need greater control over their data, technology, and automated processes. His talk connected the benefits of automation with the practical requirements for operating these workflows securely and maintaining oversight.
Open Source Gives Organizations More Control Over Technology Choices
Rick Rackow of STACKIT focused on open source as a foundation for digital sovereignty. Open technologies give organizations more options for managing dependencies and preserving their ability to act independently.
His perspective called for a balanced assessment. Proprietary software has a valid role to play. Organizations need to evaluate which solution fits each use case and understand the dependencies that come with it.
Energy Sovereignty and AI Ethics at the Executive Roundtable
The executive roundtable featured:
- Karl Eberhard Hunke, Executive Board Member, CUT POWER AG
- Wiebke Apitzsch, CTO, AI.IMPACT
- Steffen Heyde, Director, secunet Security Networks AG
- Roland Klauss, CEO, ADS-TEC Energy Austria
The discussion connected the technical topics with broader questions of business responsibility. It covered sovereignty in the energy sector as well as ethical considerations in the use of AI, highlighting how closely technology dependencies, governance, and long-term resilience are linked.
Austrian journalist and longtime Berlin correspondent Ewald König moderated the evening. Alongside the substantive discussion, his observations on German coffee culture and Austrian café charm added a lighthearted moment.
Conversations continued over dinner. EBCONT thanks all speakers, panelists, and attendees, as well as the Austrian Embassy in Berlin and ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA for their hospitality and support.
Take the Next Step Toward IT Resilience
EBCONT helps organizations assess security risks, put AI governance into practice, and make informed decisions about technology dependencies. Let’s discuss your priorities and identify practical next steps.