From Lisbon with Impact: Sigma Software at APECSYS Grand Conference and Web Summit

Sigma Software in Portugal: Growing Connections and Opportunities

For Sigma Software, Portugal is more than a destination — it’s a strategic hub for innovation and partnerships. Over the past years, our company has been actively building relationships with local tech communities, startups, and enterprises. We attended industry events, joined the ecosystem associations, and extended our presence in Portugal.

To continue introducing our forward-thinking solutions and innovative approach to Portuguese IT community, we attended Web Summit in Lisbon and APECSYS Grand Conference on “Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation in a Multipolar World aiming to:

• Strengthen our ties with Portuguese and global businesses
• Explore collaborations with government and public-sector organizations on digital transformation initiatives
• Engage with local talent and tech ecosystems to foster knowledge exchange and innovation.

Lisbon’s vibrant tech scene aligns perfectly with our vision of global connectivity. We’re excited to keep expanding our footprint in Portugal and contribute to its growing role in the European technology landscape.

APECSYS Grand Conference: Driving Cybersecurity Conversations

The highlight of our Lisbon streak was the APECSYS Grand Conference, which gathered 400+ participants, including government officials, industry leaders, and security professionals.

The event served as a strong platform for meaningful dialogue, and our experts joined with their valuable insights. Dmytro Tereshchenko, Global CISO at Sigma Software Group, together with Renato Neves, IT Security Consultant at Novobanco, participated in a panel discussion and held a hands-on workshop “How to prepare and recover from a cybersecurity disaster”.

The workshop reached full capacity and focused on practical incident-response scenarios, including a structured walkthrough of the major blackout that occurred in Portugal earlier this year. Attendees — from business owners to public-sector representatives — noted it as one of the most practical and insightful sessions of the day.

Here are a few key insights from Dmytro’s talk:

• A BCP exists only if it’s tested.
  Sigma Software had a BCP team since 2020, but simulations revealed significant gaps. Without real exercises, teams often assume readiness — but assumptions don’t protect businesses.
• Crisis Simulation is one of the most effective ways to test and prepare.
  From phishing and malware to DDoS, insider threats, and social engineering — scenario-based simulations reveal how people and processes actually behave under stress, providing insights that routine checks may miss.
• Weekly trainings changed everything.
  Between Nov 2021 and Feb 2022, regular cross-team simulations helped Sigma Software refine guidelines, strengthen local BCP teams, and prepare employees for unprecedented events.
• Testing shows what plans don’t.
  It uncovered non-standard issues that typical BCP templates overlook — the things that matter most during real evacuations and operational disruptions.
• Perfect readiness doesn’t exist — but preparation saves lives.
  Even the best plans won’t remove every mistake during a crisis. But a trained team significantly reduces time, effort, and resources needed to ensure safety and continuity.

The current – and increasing – level of digitalization makes cybersecurity a crucial BCP component. With Sigma Software’s experience in handling BCP challenges as well as 12+ years of cybersecurity and compliance consulting – from pandemic to full-scale invasion and from power outages to Internet connection interruptions – we had a lot to share with the conference attendees.

Our cybersecurity experts are sure, cybersecurity is no longer optional — it’s mission-critical. At Sigma Software, we help organizations strengthen resilience, build effective security management systems, and stay compliant without unnecessary complexity.

Besides the stage, we presented the conference attendees with the legendary DeLorean from the Back to the Future trilogy. The car symbolized our mission to help businesses accelerate toward their digital future. Cutting a mile from the speed mark from the movies, already at 87 miles per hour, we propel companies forward with cutting-edge tools and solutions that solve challenges, boost efficiency, and spark innovation.

Web Summit 2025: Turning Lisbon into Our Stage

Web Summit is more than a conference — it’s a city-wide phenomenon uniting innovators, trendsetters, engineers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers. The event is packed with meaningful speeches, discussions, and meetings that need to be visited. And what is a better way to be everywhere at once than a time machine? Here too, our DeLorean surprised and amazed. Each day, the car appeared in a new location across Lisbon. Visitors were invited to spot it, snap it, and share for a chance to win prizes.

From the MEO Arena to the city’s busiest streets, the DeLorean drew smiles, sparked discussions, and even inspired jokes in local chats about us winning “the most creative activation” award. Police officers posed for photos, hotel directors gave up their parking spots, and attendees from the US, UK, and Qatar stopped to chat.

Wrapping Up

Our participation in Web Summit and the APECSYS Grand Conference was more than just attending events — it was about making an impact. From turning Lisbon into our stage with the legendary DeLorean to leading critical conversations on cybersecurity and digital transformation, Sigma Software demonstrated what it means to go outside of the box.

As we continue to grow our presence in Portugal and develop ties with the global IT community, we remain committed to helping organizations accelerate their digital future and build resilience in an increasingly complex world.

• #Conferences and Webinars