On Tuesday, the Charter of Trust convened a timely virtual panel discussion on 'Security by Default in View of Major Cybersecurity Regulations in North America'. With more than 100 participants joining from around the world, the discussion underscored just how urgent, and global, the cybersecurity challenge has become.

A huge thank you to our outstanding panellists for their invaluable insights and for sharing their experiences with us: Linda Strick (Cloud Security Alliance), Kyle McMillan (Siemens), Lauren Zabierek (CAS Strategies), Rob Spiger (Microsoft), Sam Curry (Zscaler), and great moderation from Sudhir Ethiraj (TÜV SÜD).

The CoT expert panel:
- discussed fragmented cybersecurity regulations in North America and the need for more resilient infrastructure and security-by-default practices ​
- emphasized the need to embed security early in product architecture rather than addressing it post-incident ​
- highlighted the importance of structured collection of security signals and incident reporting to improve software safety​
- discussed about software as critical infrastructure affecting national security, economy, and public health, requiring robust safety measures

Thank you to everyone who participated! A recording of the webinar can be found at the bottom of this page.

Join us for a timely and dynamic edition focused on “Digital Omnibus & Trust: What It Means for Business in Europe” kindly hosted by the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU on November 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM (Central European Time) for a lunch event filled with insightful discussions on cybersecurity and trust in the digital age.

With the European Commission unveiling its landmark Digital Omnibus Package just one day before, this event is your exclusive opportunity to be among the first to explore its real-world impact on business and the digital economy across Europe.

What to Expect:
Opening remarks by:
Dr. Armin Hartmuth, Director, Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union
Dr. Sumit Chanda, COO, Atos Group Security & Business Lines CISO, and Co-Chair of the Charter of Trust.

Keynote Address:
Despina Spanou, Deputy Director General for Cybersecurity and Trust, European Commission (DG CNECT), will share first-hand insights into the objectives and expected impact of the Digital Omnibus Package.

Expert Panel Discussion featuring:Moderated by Sudhir Ethiraj, Global Head of Cybersecurity Office, CEO Business Unit Cybersecurity Services, TÜV SÜD.

Despina Spanou, Deputy Director General for Cybersecurity and Trust, European Commission (DG CNECT)
Kia Slæbæk Jensen, Cyber Advisor, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU
Suzanne Button, Field CTO EMEA, Elastic
Tomas Jakimavicius, Director European Government Affairs, Microsoft
Yana Humen, AI and Cybersecurity Policy Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs, IBM

Interactive Q&A: Bring your questions and join the conversation on regulatory coherence, innovation, and the future of digital governance in Europe.

Closing remarks by Maria del Pino Gonzalez-Junco, Director of the Charter of Trust

Networking Lunch: Connect with peers, policymakers, and industry leaders in an informal setting.

Why attend?
Gain first-hand insights into the EU’s Digital Omnibus Package—straight from the policymakers and experts shaping it.
Understand the immediate implications for your business and how to navigate upcoming changes.
Be part of a strategic dialogue that could influence the future of digital regulation in Europe.

On June 5th, the Charter of Trust convened a high-level workshop dedicated to one of the most pressing challenges in cybersecurity: how to train, attract, and retain the next generation of cyber professionals.

Bringing together representatives from Charter of Trust Partners and external organizations, the session focused on enhancing the Cyber Talent Academy, a growing initiative that is already demonstrating real impact. The workshop was a space for deep exchange, shared purpose, and forward-looking collaboration between cybersecurity and HR professionals.

One key theme ran through every conversation: the cyber skills gap continues to widen, and traditional recruitment methods are no longer enough. To meet growing demand, we must fundamentally rethink how we discover, train, and support talent.

A New Approach to Cyber Talent

The Cyber Talent Academy is emerging as a powerful model for change. By offering alternative pathways into cybersecurity, beyond conventional educational and career tracks, it opens opportunities to individuals from a range of academic, cultural, and professional backgrounds. Participants agreed that the programme holds strong potential for expanding the talent pipeline, increasing diversity, and making cybersecurity more inclusive and resilient.

The workshop discussions underlined several critical insights:

- Relying solely on established recruitment channels will not close the cyber talent gap.
- Tapping into overlooked talent pools, through inclusive outreach, training, and mentoring, creates real business value and aligns with corporate social responsibility goals.
- Stronger collaboration between cybersecurity and HR teams is essential, particularly when it comes to structuring mentorship, supporting life-long learning, and designing modern career pathways.
- Initiatives like the Cyber Talent Academy are already showing higher retention and greater team innovation in participating organizations.

“Attracting, retaining, and developing cybersecurity talent is a challenge faced by nearly every organization today,” says Dr. Sumit Chanda, Co-Chair of the Charter of Trust and COO Group Security & Business Lines CISO at Atos. “The Charter of Trust Cyber Talent Academy offers a bold and innovative response to this challenge.” Dr. Chanda further emphasizes the power of collaboration, between businesses, educators, and governments, as essential to closing the cyber skills gap. He adds, “Expanding access to cybersecurity training, especially for underrepresented communities, isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s smart business. Diverse perspectives are vital to building resilient and secure systems.”

Looking Ahead

This workshop was just the beginning. The energy, expertise, and ideas shared on June 5th are shaping the next phase of the Cyber Talent Academy, and informing how we support our partners in building stronger, more inclusive cybersecurity teams. We’re excited to continue this journey and will be sharing updates on upcoming developments.

Stay tuned. The future of cybersecurity talent is collaborative, diverse, and full of potential.