AI to Be Dominant Technology in Industrial Cybersecurity by 2026

[Ahmet Ö.]

## Artificial Intelligence Takes Center Stage in Industrial Cybersecurity

The demands in the field of cybersecurity are rapidly increasing due to changing geopolitical conditions. Industrial companies, in particular, have become the focal point of this pressure.

Cybersecurity expert Götz Schartner, founder and CEO of 8com GmbH & Co. KG, one of Germany's leading SOC service providers, will recreate his company's Security Operations Center live for visitors at Hannover Messe 2026. This will give participants the opportunity to experience cybersecurity firsthand.

According to Schartner, cybercrime has become one of today's most effective industries. Cybercrime-as-a-service makes attacks scalable, cheap, and accessible to everyone. Ready-made attack chains, blackmail infrastructures, and automated tools are easily obtainable. The lines between criminal groups and state-sponsored actors are becoming increasingly blurred. Artificial intelligence (AI) is ushering in a new era in attack and defense; by 2026, AI will become the dominant technology in this field. Attackers will use AI for phishing, social engineering, vulnerability analysis, and to automate entire attack campaigns. On the other hand, AI will also play a critical role in defense for anomaly detection, attack pattern analysis, alarm evaluation, and incident response.

Schartner summarizes the situation as follows: "Cybersecurity is no longer an additional task, but a fundamental requirement for stability and the future. Companies that understand the risks, control processes, and realistically define their security strategy will be far more successful in 2026 than those who merely react to incidents."

### Secomea's Industrial Remote Access Solution

Secomea, a wholly-owned subsidiary of McNaughton-McKay Electric USA, will introduce its OT-focused, zero-trust-based secure remote access solution at Hannover Messe 2026. This solution enables engineering firms to gain remotely controlled, secure, and fully transparent access to machines and production facilities. Secomea helps with secure collaboration with external service providers, protection of critical industrial systems and networks, and compliance with industrial cybersecurity standards such as IEC 62443 and NIS2. All of this is achieved without disrupting operations or adding complexity for businesses.

### DSN GROUP's Cybersecurity Approach for Industry

At Hannover Messe 2026, DSN GROUP will focus on strengthening the organizational and process-based cybersecurity of industrial companies. As expert consultants in information security, they will demonstrate how security can be made permanent through structured information security management systems (ISMS) compliant with ISO/IEC 27001 and sector-specific standards. Today, this approach has become more critical for cyber resilience than technical measures.

Considering NIS2 regulations, the increasing number of attacks, and complex operational structures, many industrial organizations need professional support in setting up security processes, realistically assessing risks, and effectively controlling measures. With the widespread adoption of creative AI technologies, the requirements for governance, risk management, and clarification of responsibilities are increasing. DSN GROUP experts will explain at the fair how permanent cybersecurity can be achieved by blending legal, organizational, and technical perspectives, and by leveraging external ISMS expertise and external information security resources, regardless of company size, sector, and existing system structures.

### HANNOVER MESSE Cybersecurity and Industrial Innovations

The Industrial Security Circus, to be set up in Hall 26 at HANNOVER MESSE, will bring together leading experts in cybersecurity, innovative solution providers, and users to showcase current threats, practical protection concepts, and the future of industrial cybersecurity. The nearby "5G and Industrial Wireless Arena" will focus on key technologies such as 5G, 6G, and NBIoT as Europe's largest platform for wireless communication in industry.

### About HANNOVER MESSE

HANNOVER MESSE is the world's leading trade fair for industry. More than 3,000 companies from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, digital sectors, and the energy industry present competitive and sustainable solutions here. The main exhibition areas are Automation & Digitalization, Energy & Industrial Infrastructure, and Research & Technology Transfer. The theme of artificial intelligence is integrated across all exhibition areas, and a comprehensive conference program complements the fair. The next fair will take place from April 20-24, 2026, in Hannover, with Brazil as the partner country.