Meet the sponsors: JYVSECTEC

JYVSECTEC – Jyväskylä Security Technology – is Finland’s leading cyber security research, development, and training center. Founded in 2011, the center has been focused on OT cyber security since 2016. JYVSECTEC is part of Jamk University of Applied Sciences in Jyväskylä and currently employs over 50 specialists in cybersecurity and AI.

Aiming to build resilience

JYVSECTEC's mission is to strengthen organisational resilience against cyber attacks. "We work towards a future where organisations understand modern threats and the countermeasures needed to minimise risks. Our role is to raise competence levels so that continuity management in organisations is in capable hands," says Chief Technology Officer Marko Vatanen. To succeed in their mission, JYVSECTEC invests heavily in research, development, and innovation – studying the cyber risks inherent in OT environments, attack methods and vectors, and security measures.

JYVSECTEC's core strength lies in its in-depth knowledge of OT environments across a wide range of sectors, from energy and critical infrastructure to food production, commerce, and healthcare. The organisation provides cybersecurity exercises and technical and functional training for state administration organisations, security authorities, the EDA and the EU, and critical infrastructure organisations. JYVSECTEC works in close co-operation with the National Emergency Supply Agency in Finland and maintains strong ties with its European counterparts.

JYVSECTEC's cyber exercises are carried out on Realistic Global Cyber Environment (RGCE), a platform that replicates the digital world at both global and organisational level, with realistic dependencies and functionalities. The exercises simulate how an organisation operates under a cyber attack, engaging all levels from technical specialists to senior management. The goal is to help organisations test and sharpen their preparedness, and to strengthen their resilience and operational reliability.

A field that is waking up

JYVSECTEC finds that awareness of OT cybersecurity varies considerably across the sector. Some operators are more mature and well-prepared; others place their trust mostly in their equipment or system partners. Overall, Finland is in a reasonably strong position, though limited resources remain a persistent challenge: many organisations are running lean, and if an attack succeeds, the ability to manage disruption, resolve the incident and recover depends heavily on having the right people in place.

“OT environments have long been built around established, traditional ways of working. That is now changing rapidly. Greater interdependencies with systems beyond core processes are emerging, bringing with them new business challenges and growing technological complexity,” describes Marko Vatanen.

JYVSECTEC's message to OT operators is straightforward: make sure you are continuously developing your preparedness against today's threats. Compliance with the standard is not enough. Organisations must have the drive to proactively develop their capabilities, to understand the threat climate, and to take a holistic approach rather than focus on isolated technologies or processes. Effective cyber resilience is a combination of technology, processes, and leadership.

New faces, new partnering possibilities

JYVSECTEC took part in OT Cyber Security Summit Finland 2026 and was among the first to register for the 2027 event. “We had the opportunity to meet entirely new organisations and contacts and have productive discussions – we even identified potential partners for our upcoming RDI projects. We are delighted that there is now a dedicated event focused solely on OT cybersecurity,” Marko Vatanen says.

”Our target for next year is to reach an even wider, international audience. The new exhibition floor layout gives us a more prominent position at the venue. As an impartial, not-for-profit organisation, we believe we bring valuable perspective to the exhibitor line-up,” Vatanen continues.

Marko Vatanen, Chief Technology Officer

Marko Vatanen acts as lead designer and technical architect across the organisation's RDI projects. His strengths lie in an integrated approach that brings together technology, business, and processes, underpinned by a holistic understanding of the OT cyber landscape and its best practices. His field of expertise is cyber defence: protecting critical operations and systems, and guiding organisations through recovery from cyber incidents.

JYVSECTEC

JYVSECTEC (Jyväskylä Security Technology) is a cyber security research, development, and training center, operating at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. As an independent and trusted partner, it helps organizations strengthen their capabilities and expertise against modern threats. It provides solutions through R&D, training, and cyber exercises, leveraging its in-house cyber range for all activities.