Record-breaking it-sa: over 1,000 exhibitors for the first time
From October 27 to 29, 2026, the it-sa Expo&Congress took place for the 17th time at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. With 1,005 exhibitors, Europe’s largest IT security trade fair surpassed the 1,000-mark for the first time. More than 33,000 trade visitors from over 70 countries attended—an increase of approximately 20 percent compared to the previous year.
The key focus areas highlight where companies are currently facing the most pressure:
- Current cyber threats
- Artificial intelligence, cloud security
- Digital resilience
- Protection of critical infrastructure.
A highlight was the interactive “Cyber Incident Simulation” led by Prof. Dr. Marco Gercke, which demonstrated that, in a real-world crisis, clear decision-making processes and effective crisis communication are essential.
Professional exchange means sharing added value
We were particularly pleased that we met some of our customers at the trade fair. The on-site conversation, away from project appointments, is always something special for us. Thank you to everyone who took the time to do this!
Personal exchange with our partners was also a focus for us. In Nuremberg we spoke to Veeam, Rubrik, Cohesity, Wasabi and TIM, among others. Product roadmaps, joint projects and current customer requirements.
One theme ran through almost all conversations: backup has long been part of the cyber security strategy. Unalterable data copies, fast and verified recovery, and secure cloud storage destinations are now core building blocks of cyber resilience. This is exactly where we support our customers together with our partners.
New Faces on the Market – and a German Backup Manufacturer
Walking through the five halls, it was striking how many new companies are now involved in cybersecurity. Many young providers are occupying niche markets, from identity protection and attack detection to automated recovery. The market is becoming both broader and more specialized.
NovaStor was particularly interesting for us. The German backup manufacturer demonstrated its integration with Predatar, a long-standing Empalis partner from the UK. For companies that value digital sovereignty and a backup provider from Germany, this is an exciting combination. We will report more on this shortly.
AI, Cybersecurity, and more – an overview of the top topics
- AI is the primary driver: Hardly any booth was without an AI component—whether for threat detection, automation, or the analysis of large datasets. At the same time, attackers are leveraging these very same tools, increasing the pressure on every defense strategy.
- Cybersecurity continues to see strong growth: This is reflected in record numbers of both exhibitors and visitors. Regulations such as NIS2, a tense threat landscape, and the issue of digital sovereignty are keeping demand high.
- Resilience trumps pure prevention: The question is no longer just how to prevent attacks, but how quickly a company can resume operations following an incident. Consequently, backup and recovery have moved to the very top of the agenda.
Tracking Trends into 2027
Next year, it-sa will take place from October 5–7, 2027, spanning six exhibition halls. A new addition is the it-sa CONFERENCE—and for us, one thing is certain: the date is already marked in our calendar!
For an early look at the year ahead from the perspective of IT and business resilience, join the "WebKo" (web conference) hosted by *IT-Sicherheit Online* on December 10, 2026. You can register for free—or pre-register—via our partner, *IT-Sicherheit Online*, and attend our presentation: "Ransomware, AI, and Regulatory Pressure: Ensuring Operational Capability."
Additionally, or as a complement to this, we will be hosting an online panel discussion early next year: the "Emaplis Live Expert Talk." We will explore the critical factors for business resilience in 2027, along with the strategic and operational steps that need to be considered. Keep an eye on our events section for an upcoming announcement regarding this, as well as other timely topics such as business continuity, (cyber) resilience, and operational reliability.
Sources
- Computerworld.ch: it-sa 2026 verzeichnet deutliches Besucherplus (https://www.computerworld.ch/themen/security-und-compliance/it-sa-2026-verzeichnet-deutliches-besucherplus)
- it-sa 365: it-sa überschreitet erstmals die Marke von 1.000 Ausstellern (https://www.itsa365.de/de-de/news-knowledge/2026/10/it-sa-ueberschreitet-erstmals-marke)
