Jul 13, 2016

• Fourth summit held for the first time in the U.S.
• Global dialog about the challenges of digitization and cyber security
• International experts from science, politics, business and the military discuss key issues

The fourth Cyber Security Summit will be hosted by the Munich Security Conference and Deutsche Telekom in Silicon Valley. On September 19 and 20, 2016, around 100 senior representatives from science, politics, business and the military will meet at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, to debate current challenges in cyberspace. Topics will include cyber defense, the future of warfare, developing standards and regulations for cyberspace, combating cyber terrorism and the economic ramifications of cyber security.

"Cyber attacks do not stop at national borders. If we want maximum levels of security, we need to consult with each other on the international stage and conduct open discussions. That is the purpose of the fourth Cyber Security Summit," says Tim Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom. And he adds: "There are few places where the vision of digitization is as vigorously developed and realized as in Silicon Valley. Thus it is only natural that the Cyber Security Summit should be held at the heart of the world's most important IT and high-tech industry region – there is no better place to discuss the cyberspace issues we face."

"Freedom and security in cyberspace matter tremendously for businesses, strategists and society as a whole. Only through close collaboration, we will be able to set the conditions for an Internet that is free, secure and open," says Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference. "This is why we want to bring together representatives from various sectors in Silicon Valley to discuss how we can effectively counter the growing threats from cyberspace while also strengthening the factors that underpin a free and open web.

Over the past five decades, the Munich Security Conference has become one of the most important global platforms for dialogue on foreign and security policy. Today, this dialogue must include cyber security. Leaders from business, society, politics, and the military must devise strategies and solutions in order to deal with the various threats in cyberspace. By hosting the Cyber Security Summit, the Munich Security Conference and Deutsche Telekom AG want to provide a platform for a joint, cross-sectoral debate on the options available for coping with current and future challenges.

About the Munich Security Conference

Since its foundation five decades ago, the Munich Security Conference (MSC) has become the major global forum for dialogue on foreign and security policy. In addition to its annual flagship conference, the MSC regularly convenes high-profile events on particular topics and regions and publishes the Munich Security Report. For its cyber security activities, the MSC is partnering with the EastWest Institute, Deutsche Telekom, Google, and Microsoft to offer the best possible platforms for an open exchange of ideas and opinions.