CyberDSA moves towards its milestone fifth edition following three days of high-level government, industry and international engagement, as NACSA launches the My Cyber Hero Portal.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyber Digital Services, Defence and Security Asia (CyberDSA) will return to the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur from 19 – 21 October 2027, following the conclusion of its fourth edition today.

The dates for CyberDSA 2027 were announced by Ir. Dr. Megat Zuhairy bin Megat Tajuddin, Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) during the Closing Ceremony of CyberDSA 2026.

The announcement sets the next chapter for a platform that has continued to develop alongside a cybersecurity landscape being reshaped by artificial intelligence, increasingly connected critical infrastructure, digital trust and the growing strategic importance of data.

Ir. Dr Megat says "The work does not end when this ceremony concludes. NACSA will continue to work with every institution represented here, so that decisions taken at leadership level are matched by readiness where it matters most: in the systems, teams and services that people rely on every day.It is therefore my pleasure to announce that CyberDSA will return in 2027, from 19 to 21 October 2027. When we gather again, the measure of our progress should not be the number of conversations we repeat, but the gaps we have closed: in readiness, in capability and in the protection of the systems entrusted to us."

CyberDSA 2026 marked a significant fourth edition for the platform, with its strongest international representation to date and an exhibition floor reflecting the expanding scope of cybersecurity across government, industry, defence and critical infrastructure. Held from 5-7 October under the theme "Advancing Secure AI, Strengthening Digital Trust, and Safeguarding Data Sovereignty," the event demonstrated how quickly the cybersecurity agenda is evolving, and how consequential it has become.

The scale and composition of CyberDSA 2026 reflected the position the platform has built within the regional cybersecurity ecosystem. This year's edition featured 167 participating companies from 21 countries and welcomed 8,862 visitors from 55 countries over three days.

A significant part of that international participation came through the Cyber Leaders Programme, which welcomed 68 foreign delegations from 19 countries, alongside representatives of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).  Participants included directors-general and senior officials from national cybersecurity and communications authorities, military commanders, defence cyber leaders, government officials, cyber attachés and senior technology executives.

They represented countries across ASEAN and the wider international community, including Azerbaijan, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Oman, the Philippines, Singapore, Somalia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Through the Cyber Leaders Programme and a series of VIP exhibition tours, participating companies were able to engage directly with senior international and Malaysian decision-makers. Across the three days, these engagements included the Deputy Minister of Digital, Minister of Defence, Deputy Minister of Defence, alongside senior leadership from the Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysia Police, government agencies and national cybersecurity institutions.

The wider professional audience included CISOs, CEOs, C-suite executive and technology leaders from sectors including oil, gas, energy, water, manufacturing, financial services, telecommunications and infrastructure. For exhibitors, this creates an opportunity to demonstrate capabilities directly to organisations confronting real-world security requirements, while building relationships that can develop into commercial opportunities and longer-term partnerships.

Running alongside the exhibition, the CyberDSA 2026 Conference examined issues now shaping the cybersecurity agenda, from rogue and agentic AI, digital trust, cyber defence and data sovereignty to the resilience of financial infrastructure, energy, smart cities and water systems. Perspectives came from national cybersecurity agencies, government, defence, critical infrastructure, academia and global technology companies, with speakers representing organisations including NACSA, the UAE Cybersecurity Council, CyberSecurity Malaysia, MyDigital ID, Google, Blackberry, SPLUNK, Palo Alto Networks, Syntx Sdn Bhd, Exabeam, Bursa Malaysia, KWAP, MOGSC, among many others.

Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, Chairman of Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, organiser of CyberDSA, said "Four editions later, many of the organisations that supported us at the beginning are still here. Others have joined along the way; companies have returned; and government and defence institutions have continued to place their confidence in this platform. To us, that continuity means a great deal. Because in this industry, trust is not something an organiser can put on a brochure. It must be earned, edition after edition."

The strongest measure of CyberDSA's relevance, however, comes from the companies that chose to participate.

Noorhanida Su'ib, Vice President, Product & Innovations, TM ONE, Malaysia, said "This is not our first time at CyberDSA. We have been here consecutively, and we're dedicated to this platform because we see promising value. We also get to share what we have so that the conversation can be on a broader level and contribute to thought leadership. It's not just about how the industry moves; it is also about how the Government has a certain vision and shared trust to make sure that cybersecurity evolves in Malaysia. Without fail, CyberDSA has successfully brought everyone together in one event."

My Cyber Hero Moves Into Its Next Phase

The closing ceremony also saw Ir. Dr. Megat Zuhairy officially launched the My Cyber Hero Portal, marking the next phase of an initiative introduced in 2024 as an annual workshop and competition series. By 2026, My Cyber Hero had reached more than 21,000 students across 1,100 schools nationwide, supported by a network of more than 3,500 educators.

The portal extends this initiative beyond individual workshops and competitions, creating a digital platform through which its engagement with students and educators can expand.

The Next Chapter of CyberDSA 2027

CyberDSA will return to MITEC from 19 – 21 October 2027, marking the milestone fifth edition of the event. The next edition will build on the participation and government-industry engagement established over CyberDSA's first four editions, while expanding opportunities for companies to demonstrate capabilities, engage decision-makers, identify market requirements and establish partnerships across Malaysia and the wider region.

For an industry with no shortage of places to exhibit, CyberDSA's proposition for 2027 is increasingly clear: it is not simply about being in the room with the people shaping what comes next.

As CyberDSA prepares for the next edition, companies looking to engage with the region's growing cybersecurity ecosystem are invited to secure their place in CyberDSA 2027.

For further information, kindly contact:

Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn Bhd

Tengku Dayana
PR & Communications 
Email: dayana@aeroseaexhibitions.com
Tel: +603 2702 7702
Website: www.cyberdsa.com

Social Media:

1. Facebook: @CyberDSA https://www.facebook.com/CyberDSA
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3. LinkedIn: @CyberDSA https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyber-dsa
4. YouTube: @CyberDSA https://www.youtube.com/@cyberdsa8206 
5. TikTok: @CyberDSA https://www.tiktok.com/@cyberdsa 
6. X: @CyberDSA https://x.com/CyberDsa