Security Days 2027: Security. Autonomy. Resilience.

Haarlem, The Netherlands | 6-8 April 2027

Digital dependencies, geopolitical uncertainty and evolving cyber threats are changing the decisions facing National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and their connected institutions. GÉANT Security Days 2027 will explore how security, autonomy and resilience can inform those decisions, from technology choices and risk management to the continuity of essential services.

Greater autonomy can give organisations more control over their infrastructure and reduce dependence on individual providers. Effective security helps protect that infrastructure, while resilience ensures that research, education and collaboration can continue through disruption. Achieving all three requires technical expertise, informed decisions, practical preparation and cooperation across the community.

Join cybersecurity professionals, CISOs, incident responders, network specialists and security researchers for three days of knowledge exchange, practical sessions and discussion about the challenges facing our community.

More information on registration, sponsorship opportunities, and the event programme will be released soon!

• Call for Proposals: Closing date 18 December 2026
• Registration: 1 December 2026 - 23 March 2027
• Sponsorship applications: 1 December 2026 - 1 March 2027
• Preliminary programme published: 29 January 2027

Partner

SURF is the IT cooperative of Dutch education and research. Its members own SURF and join forces to develop or procure the best digital services, innovate together, and develop and share knowledge. Secure, reliable and independent.

Call for Proposals

Closing date 18 December 2026
Have you tackled a difficult security challenge, developed a useful approach or learned a lesson that others could benefit from? We invite proposals from across the international research and education community and beyond.

We welcome practical experience, technical deep dives, real-world case studies and fresh perspectives. Contributions should help participants understand a challenge, learn from experience or take something useful back to their organisations.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

* Accepted speakers are expected to cover their conference registration fee and travel expenses.

* Conference participants will receive a CPD certificate, recognising their continued professional development and commitment to advancing cybersecurity expertise.

Areas of interest

The following themes offer starting points for proposals. Contributions are not limited to these areas, and we encourage submissions that connect several themes or bring an unexpected perspective.

• Digital sovereignty and autonomy: What does digital sovereignty mean in practice for research and education? Explore how organisations can understand and manage their dependencies on technology providers, assess alternatives to dominant platforms, and make informed choices. We welcome practical experiences that examine the trade-offs, costs and implications of greater autonomy.
• Artificial intelligence: a human-centred approach: AI is changing both the threats organisations face and the tools available to defend against them. We are interested in the practical implications for security teams and users, including AI-enabled attacks and defence, human oversight, responsible deployment, and the resilience of AI-supported systems.
• The human factor: People remain central to how security succeeds or fails. We welcome evidence-based approaches that help people recognise risks and make better decisions, rather than relying on blame or awareness training alone.
• Privacy: Privacy is an essential part of trustworthy digital services, yet it can be difficult to reconcile with security monitoring, data collection and operational requirements. Share approaches to protecting personal information, reducing unnecessary data exposure and balancing privacy with legitimate security needs.
• Compliance in practice: Regulatory requirements can be challenging to interpret and implement, particularly for organisations working with limited resources and complex environments. We are looking for real-world case studies that show how teams have approached compliance, addressed gaps and translated requirements into meaningful security improvements.
• Open source for security and resilience: Open-source technologies can support transparency, flexibility and greater control over digital infrastructure, but they also bring responsibilities around maintenance, vulnerabilities and long-term sustainability. Share practical experience of deploying and maintaining open-source tools, and explore their role in reducing dependencies and strengthening collective security.
• Post-quantum security: The transition to post-quantum cryptography raises questions about readiness, interoperability and long-term protection of sensitive information. We welcome contributions on migration strategies, cryptographic inventories, implementation challenges and practical steps organisations can take now to prepare for a post-quantum future.
• Hybrid threats and geopolitical instability: Cybersecurity does not operate in isolation from the wider geopolitical environment. How are NRENs and their connected institutions preparing for hybrid threats, state-linked activity, disruption and attacks on critical infrastructure?
• Research continuity and cyber resilience: Security measures must help research and education continue when infrastructure, services or suppliers are disrupted. Explore incident preparedness, recovery planning, crisis exercises, dependencies and the practical challenges of maintaining research continuity.
• Unconference and community exchange: Not every useful conversation needs a formal presentation. We welcome ideas for participant-led discussions where colleagues can compare approaches, share lessons from incidents, raise unresolved questions or explore emerging challenges together.

Location | Haarlem, The Netherlands

Haarlem, the historic capital of North Holland, is a charming hub for European collaboration, just a short train ride from Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport. With its rich architectural heritage, vibrant cultural scene, and easy accessibility, Haarlem provides an inspiring backdrop for GÉANT Security Days 2027.

Conference venue | Van der Valk Hotel Haarlem

A modern conference venue, the Van der Valk Hotel Haarlem offers adaptable meeting spaces, reliable AV facilities, and comfortable accommodation options for attendees. Its location provides easy access from Schiphol Airport and major train routes, making it convenient for participants traveling from across Europe.