CISO Roundtable 2026, titled “Code, Combat, Culture: The Future of Cyber Resilience”, was held in Karachi on 01 September 2026, bringing together cybersecurity leaders and professionals to discuss the evolving requirements of organizational cyber preparedness. The event featured discussions around the “Combat” theme, focusing on whether organizations are truly prepared to respond effectively during a cyber incident or whether their response capabilities remain limited to documented plans and procedures.
The session highlighted that having an incident response plan alone does not guarantee effective execution during a real cybersecurity event. Participants emphasized that execution readiness is equally important as policy readiness, as organizations need to ensure their teams can respond under pressure, coordinate effectively, and make timely decisions when facing operational challenges. The discussion focused on the need for practical preparation that goes beyond documentation and supports real world response capabilities. A key area of discussion was the role of cyber ranges and realistic simulations in identifying gaps that may remain unnoticed through traditional tabletop exercises and written response playbooks. These simulations help organizations evaluate their communication processes, escalation procedures, decision making capabilities, and coordination between different teams. Participants noted that regular hands on exercises are essential for developing the necessary experience and confidence required during cybersecurity incidents, as response capability cannot be developed through annual assessments alone.
The discussion also addressed the importance of testing recovery processes under realistic conditions. Participants pointed out that if an organization has never tested its recovery capabilities in a practical environment, its stated recovery timelines remain assumptions rather than proven capabilities. Building cyber resilience requires continuous practice, evaluation, and improvement to ensure organizations can effectively manage disruptions and restore operations when required. At a national level, the conversation highlighted that cybersecurity resilience is becoming increasingly important for Pakistan’s digital ecosystem. Strong institutional cybersecurity practices contribute to digital confidence, competitiveness, and trust among national and international partners, stakeholders, and investors. The ability of organizations to respond effectively to cyber incidents plays an important role in strengthening the overall digital environment.
The event was organized with support from National CERT Pakistan and MA3 Cyber, providing a platform for cybersecurity leaders to exchange insights and discuss challenges related to cyber resilience. The session brought together experts including Ali Imran, CISO at United Bank Limited, Jawad Khalid Mirza, Member Cybersecurity Forum at Pakistan Bank Association, Syed Fahd Azam, CISO at Meezan Bank, and Zeeshan Siddiqui, CISO at Bank Alfalah. Muhammad Maad moderated the discussion, guiding conversations around incident response readiness and cybersecurity leadership. The CISO Roundtable 2026 reinforced that cyber resilience is not only about implementing advanced technologies or establishing security processes. It also depends on an organization’s ability to execute effectively when faced with real cybersecurity challenges. Through continuous training, realistic simulations, and stronger coordination, organizations can improve their readiness and strengthen their ability to respond to evolving cyber threats.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
