One of the greatest challenges for smart cities is the increasing risk of cyber-attacks. Innovative connected cities are a gateway to advanced technology, convenience and efficiency, yet they also come with an increase of cyber threats, as citizen lives become more vulnerable to attacks that can immobilize critical infrastructures.
The Federation of Local Authorities in Israel has come up with a first of its kind initiative, and will hold a cyber security conference targeted at cyber threats at the municipal level. The conference will take place on February 13-14, 2018, in Tel Aviv, as part of the Federation’s Annual Conference and the MUNI-EXPO urban innovation conference, and will be attended by delegations from 80 municipalities and local authorities worldwide.
Participants will meet with leading cyber security experts from Israel and the world, for a global brainstorming session concerning the challenges and threats of smart cities. Among the activities will be simulated war-games, sessions on cyber defense strategies, and introduction of current and future technologies. Experts and leaders in the cybersecurity industry will present developments of various innovative tools of defense and cyber threat assessment.
MUNI-EXPO conference will include a two-day exhibition and meeting grounds for 150 Israeli and international service providers, reflecting a variety of smart city technologies, including: cybersecurity, smart transportation, energy efficiency, sensors networks, emergency services technologies, surveillance, environmental technologies and many more.
Speakers include:
Israeli Minister of Economy Eli Cohen; former Mossad director general Tamir Pardo; co-founder and CEO of Radware, Roy Zisapel; Palo Alto, CA CIO, Dr. Jonathan Reichental; CIO at Israel Electric Corporation, Yossi Shnek; founder, partner and CEO of FourtyTwo Global, Menny Barzilay and others.
Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, Haim Bibas: “Local authorities and municipalities use numerous databases, some of which contain sensitive citizen information. It is no wonder that cyber attackers target them. The more we move towards smart cities, in Israel and worldwide, threats increase – whether over information systems, or computerized control systems responsible for critical infrastructure necessary for proper life in the urban sphere.”
The MUNI-EXPO urban innovation conference will be held on February 13-14, 2018, at the Tel Aviv Convention Center. This is the second time that this conference presents a central platform for the promotion of smart cities in Israel. This year, the innovation fair will include various cybersecurity-related products and services, IT solutions, technological incubators and start-ups, as well as an international fair attended by hundreds of municipal leaders from all over the world who will be discussing the ongoing challenges on a global level.