Strengthening Global Cybersecurity: Charter of Trust’s Thematic Dinner at MSC
At this year’s Munich Security Conference, the Charter of Trust hosted its annual Thematic Dinner, focusing on the theme: “From Cyber Fences to Defences: Reversing Cyber Policy Fragmentation.”

With cybersecurity at the forefront of global security discussions, the event brought together high-ranking representatives from NATO, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), the European External Action Service, national cybersecurity authorities, military leaders, and parliamentary officials. Their expertise contributed to a series of insightful discussions on strengthening international cyber resilience.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion

The increasing threat of cyber-attacks and disinformation poses a significant risk to economies and democracies. There is an urgent need for a coordinated and robust global response to mitigate these threats and establish clear consequences for malicious cyber activities.

Public-private cooperation plays a crucial role in cyber defence. The private sector possesses essential technological capabilities that must be leveraged to enhance the security of information systems, economic infrastructure, and democratic institutions.

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a critical battleground in cybersecurity. Protecting critical infrastructure with quantum-cryptographic security will be essential to counter evolving cyber threats effectively.

This event marked the conclusion of an exceptionally productive month for the Charter of Trust, which included:

This dinner was the perfect end for a very successful month in which the Charter of Trust held its Board of Directors meeting electing new co-chairs, the Security by Default working group published its sixth report (available on our website) and held a high-level panel discussion at Hashtag#MCSC, and several CISOs and CSOs from the Charter of Trust Partners published a playbook talking about cybersecurity and hybrid threats.

Cyber Resilience Took Center Stage at Munich Cyber Security Conference 2025

The Charter of Trust is proud to have organized a panel discussion on cyber resilience at this year's edition of the MCSC, bringing together some of the brightest minds in cybersecurity for a high-impact panel discussion: "A Practitioner’s Guide to Resilient Infrastructure Today & Tomorrow."

A Power-Packed Session

The session kicked off at 10 AM with Dr. Sumit Chanda, Group CISO at Eviden and Co-Chair of the Charter of Trust, introducing the alliance and setting the stage for an insightful discussion.

Next, the Charter’s latest report, "Security by Default in View of Major Cybersecurity Regulations," was presented by Sudhir Ethiraj, Global CSO & CEO Business Unit Cybersecurity Services (CSS) at TÜV SÜD. This report provides critical insights into aligning security practices with evolving regulatory landscapes.

One of the highlights of the session was a keynote from Mikko Hyppönen, Chief Research Officer at WithSecure and a global leader in the fight against cybercrime. With decades of experience at the frontlines of cybersecurity and IoT security, Mikko offered a compelling perspective on the rising threats we face today.

Joining him on the expert panel were:

- Lars König, Technical SOC Lead at Allianz

- Natalia Oropeza, Chief Cybersecurity Officer at Siemens

- Sudhir Ethiraj, Global Head of Cyber, TÜV SÜD

The panel, moderated by Dr. Ralf Schneider, Senior Fellow and Head of Cybersecurity & NextGenIT Think Tank at Allianz and Co-Chair of the Charter of Trust, explored the evolving cyber threat landscape and strategies for building resilient digital infrastructure.

Key Takeaways from the Experts

🔹 Mikko Hyppönen: "Cyber attacks aren’t just bad luck; they target vulnerabilities. Ransomware gangs have grown into cybercrime unicorns, while nation-state attackers focus on espionage and sabotage—with North Korea being the only country using cybercrime for financial gain. In today's world, data is the most valuable asset, and if data is the new oil, AI is the new refinery."

🔹 Sudhir Ethiraj: "Security by Default is more than just products—it’s about processes and organizational strategy. The Charter of Trust has set baseline cybersecurity requirements aligned with global regulations and OECD standards. Our biggest challenge? The explosion of overlapping cybersecurity regulations worldwide, none of them harmonized. We work together to bridge this gap."

🔹 Natalia Oropeza: "You cannot protect everything equally. Identify your most critical infrastructure—factories, IT applications, and business-driving processes—and prioritize their defense. Assume breaches will happen and prepare for infrastructure disruptions."

🔹 Lars König: "Understanding an adversary’s intent is crucial. Cyber threats range from espionage to financial attacks and pure disruption—each requiring a different response. The good news? We have more infrastructure and visibility than our adversaries. Our NetWatch community deploys attack sensors worldwide, tracking attackers in real time to take proactive action."

A Call to Action

This discussion made one thing clear: cyber resilience is a collective effort. To stay ahead of threats, organizations must collaborate, innovate, and implement proactive defense strategies.

With over 60 industry leaders in attendance, this session was a milestone in strengthening the global external engagement of the Charter of Trust, which remains committed to leading the charge in securing the digital future.

Navigating Cybersecurity in an Era of Hybrid Threats

As hybrid threats continue to evolve, cybersecurity has never been more critical. The latest Charter of Trust report, launched at the Munich Security Conference, presents exclusive insights from leading CISOs and CSOs across our Partner network. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the shifting threat landscape and the strategic actions necessary to enhance global resilience.

Key Insights from the Report

- The Growing Threat Landscape: Cyber adversaries are emerging across the globe, leveraging increasingly sophisticated tactics. Advanced threat detection and multi-layered defense strategies are no longer optional but essential.

- Breaking Down Security Silos: Cyber threats are constantly evolving—organizations cannot afford to wait. A proactive, collaborative approach is critical, fostering open dialogue across industries and sectors.

- Leadership in Collective Defense: Multinational corporations have a unique responsibility to lead in both technical defense and talent development, while also advancing zero trust architectures to mitigate risks effectively.

Collaboration as the Foundation of Cyber Resilience

The experiences of Charter of Trust partners highlight the importance of collective action in addressing the complexities of hybrid threats. Operating in high-stakes environments, these organizations provide valuable lessons for improving industry-wide preparedness.

A Call for Unified Action

Hybrid threats do not recognize national or industry boundaries—our response must be equally interconnected. As both prime targets and key defenders, multinational corporations are uniquely positioned to drive unified, strategic action. Initiatives like the Charter of Trust serve as a model for global collaboration, strengthening the cybersecurity ecosystem and paving the way for a more secure future.

We extend our gratitude to the CISOs and CSOs who contributed their expertise to this publication, including: Kyle Oetken (AES), Haydn Griffiths (Allianz), Paul Bayle (Atos), Christoph Peylo (Bosch), Morten Pors Simonsen (Danfoss), Koos Lodewijkx (IBM), Raphael Otto (Infineon), Natalia Oropeza (Siemens), Norbert Vetter (TÜV SÜD)