The real estate industry faces mounting cybersecurity threats that put smart buildings, facilities, and critical infrastructure at risk, prompting the creation of the inaugural Real Estate Cyber Summit scheduled for November 6. Organized by Realcomm Conference Group, the event will take place at a SCIF hosted by COPT Defense Properties in the Washington, D.C. metro area, targeting security professionals navigating the intersection of real estate and cyber risk.
This one-day summit focuses specifically on cyber challenges affecting smart buildings, facilities, critical infrastructure, and enterprise automation systems. The program will feature expert-led panels with leaders from real estate, cybersecurity, defense, and technology sectors who will unpack risks associated with IT and OT system integration. The growing complexity of building systems has created new vulnerabilities that require specialized knowledge and coordinated defense strategies.
The summit's comprehensive program covers cybersecurity in the built environment, including IT processes, smart building operations, and critical infrastructure protection. Attendees will examine real-world case studies highlighting recent threats, IT and OT breaches, and lessons learned across various building systems. These practical examples demonstrate how cyber incidents can disrupt building operations, compromise sensitive data, and threaten occupant safety.
Technical sessions will provide hands-on exploration of IT/OT integration, operational risks, and system vulnerabilities specific to real estate assets. The integration of information technology with operational technology has created new attack surfaces that many real estate organizations are unprepared to defend. As buildings become smarter and more connected, the potential impact of cyber incidents grows exponentially.
Jim Young, co-founder and CEO of Realcomm, emphasized the event's significance, stating that it brings together leading minds in real estate and cybersecurity to share strategies that could prevent major breaches. The strategic networking component at the SCIF location near Washington, D.C. will facilitate connections among cybersecurity-conscious professionals facing similar challenges. More information and registration details are available at https://realcommevents.com/cybersummit/.
The timing of this summit reflects growing concern about cybersecurity in physical infrastructure. As real estate assets incorporate more connected technologies, they become potential targets for cyber attacks that could disrupt building operations, compromise sensitive tenant information, or even threaten public safety. The concentration of expertise at this event represents a critical step toward developing industry-wide standards and best practices for protecting the built environment from evolving digital threats.
