​​it-sa Expo&Congress starts with record numbers: over 950 exhibitors in five exhibition halls for the first time and increasing international participation​

it-sa Expo&Congress, Europe's largest trade fair for IT security, will open its doors for the 16th time in Nuremberg from 7 to 9 October 2025. With a supporting programme of over 400 specialist presentations in the open forums, including a special keynote address by Dr Jean-Marc Rickli, live hacking sessions and panel discussions, the trade fair offers a unique platform for discussing the current threat situation, technological innovations and regulatory developments. For the first time, the trade fair will be held in five exhibition halls, resulting in a 15 per cent increase in exhibition space compared to last year.

“The complete sell-out of the newly integrated Hall 8 impressively demonstrates how interest in IT security topics continues to grow – both nationally and internationally. With over 950 exhibitors from 24 countries, it-sa Expo&Congress sends a clear signal about the relevance and innovative strength of the industry,” says Thimo Holst, Exhibition Director of it-sa Expo&Congress.

Record-breaking international presence

This year, visitors can look forward to a trade fair that is not only larger but also more international. The international participation is particularly evident in the joint stands from Austria, Czechia, the Netherlands, the US state of Virginia and Israel. There is also close cooperation with the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), a cross-sector membership organisation based in Brussels. The aim of the cooperation is to build a strong European cybersecurity ecosystem.

“The increasing international participation shows that IT security is a key issue across national borders, which makes European coordination particularly necessary. We are delighted that it-sa has become a global ‘must-attend event’ for many companies,” says Exhibition Director Holst.

The international dimension of the trade fair is also reflected in the special keynote address by Dr Jean-Marc Rickli, which focuses on global interrelationships. Entitled “Technology as a geopolitical weapon”, the special keynote address highlights current developments at the interface between digitalisation and geopolitics.  

Dr Jean-Marc Rickli is a leading international thought leader on security-related innovations. In his role as Head of Global and Emerging Risks at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, he analyses how disruptive technologies – in particular artificial intelligence – influence global security and social developments. With his work at the intersection of research, ethics and technology, he is actively shaping the future of trustworthy digital ecosystems.

Supporting programme offers knowledge transfer, innovation and strategic orientation

The trade fair addresses the most pressing challenges in digital security and offers a wide range of information. The focus is on technological innovations as well as strategic and regulatory issues. The following topics form important pillars of the diverse supporting programme:

• Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Defense: The focus is on agentic AI, autonomous systems and AI-based attack detection.
• Phishing & Human Risk Management: Humans as a target – social engineering, AI-supported deception and awareness strategies are the focus of numerous contributions.
• Cyber Resilience & Incident Response in Geopolitical Crises: Crisis communication strategies, the role of CISOs and the resilience of critical infrastructures are discussed in a practical manner.
• Digital Sovereignty & Compliance (NIS2, DORA, GDPR): Regulatory requirements and legal protection are key topics.
• Supply Chain Security & Post-Quantum Cryptography: Securing digital supply chains and new encryption standards are essential for future-proof security strategies.

Special formats for targeted knowledge transfer

In addition to the extensive lecture programme, it-sa will also offer a variety of curated formats in 2025 that specifically address different target groups and promote knowledge transfer at various levels. Whether strategic exchange at C-level, practical specialist input or innovative start-up solutions – the following formats complement the trade fair experience and create space for in-depth discussions, inspiration and digital participation:

• Congress@it-sa: The accompanying congress offers in-depth discussions with associations, government representatives and industry experts. Congress@it-sa is aimed at decision-makers and strategists who keep an eye on regulatory and political developments. A particular highlight, for example, is the annual conference of IT security officers in federal states and local authorities, which takes place as part of the congress.
• it-sa insights: Product-neutral presentations and panels with the latest specialist knowledge – freely accessible to all trade fair visitors. The focus here is on socially relevant topics and practical ideas.
• Startups@it-sa: Young companies present innovative solutions for IT security in two startup areas. A special highlight in the start-up area is the presentation of the ATHENE Start-up Award UP25@it-sa.
• CIOmatch: With CIOmatch, it-sa Expo&Congress is offering an exclusive format for CIOs, CISOs and digital managers for the first time this year. Over 50 decision-makers from business and administration will discuss strategic IT security issues in keynotes, panels and trade fair tours.  

The complete supporting programme with all presentations and times can be found on the website of the digital platform it-sa 365. 

it-sa@home – the hybrid expo channel  

In 2025, it-sa@home will once again accompany the it-sa Expo&Congress as a hybrid format on the it-sa 365 digital platform. Parallel to the trade fair in Nuremberg, the expo channel offers a varied digital supporting programme with exclusive online sessions, live streams of selected presentations and interactive formats. Participants can find out about the latest trends in IT security regardless of their location, exchange ideas with experts and network in a targeted manner. Highlights include selected it-sa insights from trade fair partners, interviews with keynote speakers, live streaming of the special keynote address and active participation in live Q&A sessions. it-sa@home is therefore an ideal complement to a visit to the trade fair – or an attractive alternative for those who cannot be there in person.