KUALA LUMPUR, 5 October 2026 — Cyber Digital Services, Defence & Security Asia (CyberDSA) 2026 opened today at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), bringing together government agencies, defence and security organisations, regulators, industry leaders, technology providers and researchers as Malaysia accelerates its drive to become an AI Nation by 2030.

The three-day event, now in its fourth edition, was officially opened by Deputy Minister of Digital Malaysia, YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong.

The opening comes as Malaysia’s push to expand artificial intelligence adoption brings cybersecurity, digital trust and data sovereignty into sharper focus.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded across government, businesses and essential services, the security of the data, infrastructure, networks and digital systems supporting these technologies is emerging as a critical part of the country’s digital transformation agenda.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong said Malaysia’s ambition to become an AI Nation must be underpinned by security, trust and national capability.

“An AI nation must also be a secure nation. AI depends on data. Data depends on infrastructure. Infrastructure depends on security. And ultimately, the willingness of people and businesses to participate in the digital economy depends on trust.”

He said weakening any part of that chain could undermine the broader benefits of digital transformation.

Malaysia’s current policy direction reflects the growing convergence between AI development and cybersecurity. The Malaysia Digital Action Plan 2030 (MD2030) sets out the country’s pathway towards becoming an AI Nation by 2030, while the National AI Action Plan 2026–2030 translates that ambition into implementation across government, business and society.

The establishment of AI Malaysia Berhad, the national lead AI agency under the Ministry of Digital, further places governance, trust, assurance and national capability alongside AI adoption and innovation.

Against this backdrop, CyberDSA 2026 is being held under the theme “Advancing Secure AI, Strengthening Digital Trust, and Safeguarding Data Sovereignty.”

The theme reflects a widening cybersecurity agenda in which protecting digital systems is no longer limited to preventing unauthorised access, but increasingly involves ensuring the integrity of information, maintaining operational continuity, protecting sensitive and strategic data, and strengthening resilience against disruption.

The challenge extends across sectors. Financial services, telecommunications, energy, water, transportation, public services and connected-city infrastructure are generating and relying on increasingly large volumes of data, while automation and AI are becoming more closely integrated into decision-making and service delivery.

Data sovereignty is also becoming a strategic consideration as organisations depend more heavily on cloud infrastructure, AI models and technology ecosystems that operate across borders. Questions over where data is stored, who can access it and which jurisdictions govern it are becoming increasingly important for both governments and businesses.

The scale of CyberDSA 2026 reflects the breadth of this evolving security environment. A total of 167 companies and organisations from 21 countries are participating in the exhibition, showcasing capabilities across system integration, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Operations Centre (SOC) services, managed security, data protection and encryption, cryptography, cyber ranges, threat intelligence, network, cloud and endpoint security, telecommunications and satellite technologies.

The exhibition also covers cyber defence, cyber warfare, electronic warfare and AI infrastructure, highlighting the growing interdependence between digital infrastructure, intelligence and national security.

Beyond the exhibition floor, CyberDSA 2026 features conferences, flash talks, MoU signings and specialised programmes involving policymakers, regulators, defence and law enforcement agencies, critical infrastructure operators, chief information security officers, researchers and technology providers.

For organiser Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, the continued development of CyberDSA is driven by the changing priorities facing governments, businesses and technology communities.

Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, Chairman of Aerosea Exhibitions, said the value of an industry platform such as CyberDSA lies in its ability to reflect developments and priorities beyond the exhibition hall.

“A platform such as this must reflect what governments are prioritising, what industries are confronting, what capabilities the market is developing, and where greater understanding between these communities is needed,” he said.

Aerosea said CyberDSA is positioned not simply as a marketplace for cybersecurity technologies, but as a platform connecting national priorities with the capabilities being developed by industry.

CyberDSA 2026 continues at MITEC on 6 and 7 October 2026, with discussions expected to further examine the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, digital trust, data sovereignty and national resilience.