The Cyber Resilience Summit (SDZ'24) was held jointly by the Information Communication Security, Compliance and Cyber Resilience Association (BİGUS) and hosted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi. The summit, attended by experts in the field, highlighted B2B connections, personal and corporate networking opportunities in the area of cyber security. Participants gained new perspectives in six different sessions held during the summit, which also addressed the cyber resilience agenda. Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel pointed out that in the struggles between states, not only conventional but also unconventional tools are used together, adding that hybrid wars will occur more frequently over time, and the value and importance of cyber security in these hybrid wars will become evident.
Students showed great interest in the summit, which was held in six different sessions at the Üsküdar University Main Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall. In addition to experts in the field, Murat Yazgan, Head of Informatics and Cyber Security Department, Directorate General of National Technology Development, also participated in the summit.
The opening speeches were delivered by Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel and BIGUS Chairman of the Board Cem Hacızade.
Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel: “We see how valuable cyber security is for digital homeland defense”
Delivering the opening speech of the summit, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel spoke about the national and international importance of cyber security. Ergüzel pointed out that the importance of cyber security will increase in the future; “Within the scope of this summit, especially due to hybrid attacks being on the agenda, we see how valuable cyber security is for digital homeland defense. Thanks to ASELSAN and the investments and products of other public partnership affiliates, we have made significant progress in the defense industry, which is evident. However, in the process we have seen, observed, and experienced firsthand over the last two or three days, we see that in the struggles between states, not only conventional but also unconventional tools are used together. Therefore, you will see these hybrid wars more often over time. At the same time, you will see how precious and valuable cyber security is in these hybrid wars.” he said.
Following the opening speeches, Ali Dinçkan from Optimate Solutions gave a presentation titled “Risk and compliance management practices in cyber resilience”.
Sessions started after the presentation.
Murat Yazgan, Head of Informatics and Cyber Security Department, also attended
In the first session, moderated by BIGUS Chairman of the Board Cem Hacızade, the topic of “Regulation and Compliance: Data Protection Laws and Standards” was discussed under the heading of Digital Transformation and Cyber Resilience. Among the speakers of the first session were Murat Yazgan, Head of Informatics and Cyber Security Department, Directorate General of National Technology Development; Merve Hatice Karataş, Head of TSE Informatics Test and Certification Department; İdris Doğrul, BİSİAD Chairman of the Board; and Burak Yeşilderya, Chief Auditor of Proks Certification Information Systems.
Cyber security architecture and software application security were discussed
In the second session, moderated by Cenk Erim Tezel, Chief Auditor of Information and Communication Security Compliance, “Cyber Security Architecture and Software Application Security: Software Defense Layers and Requirements” was discussed under the heading of Software/Application Security Cyber Resilience. The session featured Mehmet Uçansoy, Information Technologies Director of Energy Markets Operating Co. (EPİAŞ) and EDİDER Board Member; Prof. Dr. Buyurman Baykal from METU Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department; and Savaş Uluçay, Head of Chamber of Computer Engineers Cyber Security Working Group.
Information security for a resilient future was discussed
In the third session, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aytuğ Boyacı, Head of Cyber Security Department, Defense Industry Academy, the topic of “Information Security for a Resilient Future: Ways to Manage Risks in Forensic Informatics” was discussed under the heading of Forensic Informatics Cyber Resilience. Speakers in the session included Dağhan Ersoy, Head of Information Technology Department, İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi; Emre Çelikkol, Forensic Informatics Expert from Fordefence Consultancy; and Lecturer İbrahim Gündüzgil, Head of İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Cyber Security Program.
Zero trust and cyber resilience were discussed
In the fourth session, moderated by Aykut Seyrek, Head of Technological Group, “Zero Trust and Cyber Resilience” was discussed. The session, which addressed critical thinking to creatively and systematically solve the constantly changing problems of cyber security, featured F. Filiz Ulvi, Adeo Cyber Security GRC Team Leader; Ali Dinçkan, CEO of Optimate Solutions; and Hakan Kantaş, BT YÖN Cyber Security Consultant, as speakers.
Dr. Ahmet Şenol: “It means you are putting yourself at a certain level of risk”
Dr. Ahmet Şenol, Head of Üsküdar University Cyber Security Master's Program, gave a presentation after the fourth session. Şenol, who spoke about juice jacking and Bad USB attacks, said; “You have probably seen USB ports, especially on ferries, public transportation vehicles, and municipal buses. If your charger is not with you, but your cable is, you plug that cable into this port with the intention of charging your device. However, that USB port may contain a special mechanism. This means you are putting yourself at a certain level of risk. In contrast, if we carry our own charger and our own cable, we become more secure.”
Next-generation cyber threats and trends were addressed
In the fifth session, moderated by Orhan Samast, Chairman of the Board of the Reputation Management Institute, the topic of “Next-Generation Cyber Threats and Trends” was addressed. The session included Dr. Hüseyin Yüce, Head of Marmara University Cyber Security Department; Yıldız Balatürk Erkan, Partner at RSU Informatics and Consultancy; and CISSP-CMMI-Information and Cyber Security Consultant, Blockchain Gürhan Özdemir.
Cyber resilience in the civil aviation sector was highlighted
The final session was moderated by Emre Çelikkol, Senior Digital Forensic Informatics Expert from Fordefence Informatics. Under the heading of Civil Aviation Sector Cyber Resilience, the topic of “Data Security in the Aviation Industry: Protection of Flight Information and Passenger Data” was discussed. The session, which explained the importance of cyber security in the aviation sector, featured İsmihan Baysal Anderson, Information Processing and Automation Director at ISG Airport; Enes Yıldızhan, Tailwind Aviation Cyber Security Manager; Volkan Vural, Information Security Manager at YDA Dalaman Airport; and Okan Aktaş, THY Information Security Manager.
Following the conclusion of the sessions, plaques were presented to all speakers, and students were gifted a book titled “Cyber Security – Turkey's Cyber Power and Examples from the World”.
The summit concluded with a group photo session.