Delhi, 11 September 2026: UPES, an AI-First university, brings together leading researchers, cybersecurity professionals, industry practitioners and students from across the country for the International Conference on Advancement in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics (ICACSDF 2026). The university aims to strengthen dialogue around emerging cyber threats, digital crimes and the need for more resilient and secure digital ecosystems.
Organised by the School of Computer Science, UPES (SOCS), the conference was sponsored by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Uttar Pradesh Section (IEEE). It provided an interdisciplinary platform for presenting original research, exchanging technical knowledge and encouraging stronger collaboration between academia and industry. Reflecting significant research interest in the field, ICACSDF 2026 received 892 research paper submissions, of which 186 papers were accepted following peer review by 469 reviewers from across the world.
Discussions and research presentations covered areas including AI and machine learning in cybersecurity, cyber-threat intelligence, digital forensics, post-quantum and quantum cryptography, IoT security, blockchain and distributed systems, software and web security, incident response, and governance, risk and compliance.
The urgency around these areas is growing rapidly. According to data from CERT-In, cited by the Ministry of Home Affairs in March 2026, India recorded 29.44 lakh cybersecurity incidents in 2025, up from 20.41 lakh in 2024 – an increase of nearly 44 per cent. The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 also found that 87 per cent of respondents identified AI-related vulnerabilities as the fastest-growing cyber risk. As cyber threats become more frequent and sophisticated, they can disrupt businesses, compromise sensitive data and undermine trust in digital services.
Emphasising on the relevance and importance of the ICACSDF 2026, the Chief Guest, Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) said, “I am very happy to be here at the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Advancements in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics Conference’. It gives me immense pleasure to be a part of this important conference. I warmly congratulate the organisers for bringing to the centre of discussion subjects that are directly connected with our country’s development, technological progress and national security.
Talking on the subject, Dr Sunil Rai, Vice Chancellor, UPES, said, “As societies and economies become increasingly digital, cyber resilience is fundamental to building trust in our connected future. Universities have an important role in bringing together research, technology and industry expertise to anticipate emerging threats and develop responsible, practical solutions. ICACSDF 2026 created an important platform for researchers, practitioners and students to exchange knowledge, deepen collaboration and advance solutions in areas such as AI-enabled cybersecurity, digital forensics and next-generation security.”
The conference featured experts from leading institutions including the University of Auckland, Boise State University, IIT Kharagpur, IIEST Shibpur, Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata and IIT Roorkee. Keynote speakers included Prof. Steven Galbraith, Prof. Edoardo Serra, Prof. Raja Datta, Prof. Sipra Das Bit, Prof. Goutam Paul and Prof. Sanjeev Kumar.
Industry and invited experts, including representatives from Palo Alto Networks, BAMKO, Superior Group of Companies and Aliah University, brought perspectives on emerging security challenges and real-world applications of cybersecurity technologies. ICACSDF 2026 also facilitated conversations around international research collaboration, threat-intelligence exchange, skills development, security standards, regulatory challenges and industry best practices, reinforcing the need for closer engagement between researchers and cybersecurity practitioners.
Through ICACSDF 2026, UPES further strengthened its efforts to enable research, collaboration and knowledge exchange aimed at addressing evolving cybersecurity challenges and contributing to a safer and more resilient digital future.
