As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life and business, cyber attacks, deepfake fraud and ‘digital arrests’ are also on the rise. Against this backdrop, Kochi is set to host a major cybersecurity gathering on September 5, with global technology companies including Oracle, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, Microsoft, Cisco and Zscaler backing the Kerala Cyber Suraksha Summit (KCSS) 2026.
The summit, to be held at Hotel Le Méridien, is expected to bring together technology leaders, policymakers, law enforcement officials, business executives, startups and cybersecurity professionals to discuss the growing risks associated with artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digitalisation.
The second edition of KCSS is being organised by F9 Infotech in collaboration with the Government of Kerala and Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM). The event is supported by organisations including the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), TiE Kerala and the Cochin Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
F9 chief technology officer Rajesh Radhakrishnan said live demonstration of cyber attacks will be a special feature of the Kerala Cyber Suraksha Summit.
The organisers said participation of global technology giants gives the Kochi summit a significant international technology-industry presence. They added that the summit would focus on cybersecurity, AI security, cloud security, digital trust and cyber resilience, reflecting the shift in cybersecurity from a purely technology concern to a strategic business and governance issue.
As businesses increasingly deploy cloud platforms, artificial intelligence and connected digital systems, the potential impact of cyberattacks is also expanding. For companies, a cyber incident can disrupt operations, expose customer data, damage reputation and create regulatory and financial risks.
KCSS aims to broaden the discussion from preventing attacks to building the ability to anticipate, withstand and recover from cyber incidents.
The speaker line-up also includes Dr Saji Gopinath, vice chancellor, Digital University Kerala; Vinayak Godse, CEO, Data Security Council of India; and Madhavan Unnikrishnan Nair, former National Cyber Security Coordinator, Government of India.
F9 Infotech co-founder and CEO Jayakumar Mohanchandran said more than 1000 delegates and 40 speakers are expected to attend the multiple expert-led sessions.
KCSS 2026 will also host the inaugural KCSS Cyber Excellence Awards, recognising individuals and organisations contributing to India's cybersecurity ecosystem.
The awards will cover five categories:
Cybersecurity Leader of the Year
Cybersecurity Enterprise of the Year
Cybersecurity Product of the Year
Cybersecurity Innovation Award
Cybersecurity Ecosystem Excellence Award
The summit comes as Kerala seeks to strengthen its position in technology, startups and digital innovation. Kerala has a growing technology infrastructure centred around hubs such as Infopark Kochi, Technopark and Cyberpark, along with institutions such as Digital University Kerala and Kerala Startup Mission.
