KazHackStan 2026, a two-day cybersecurity conference, opened in Astana on September 29. This year’s theme is cyber resilience: organizations’ ability to detect attacks, restore systems and continue operating after an incident. Organizers expect more than 10,000 visitors over two days; the final attendance is not yet known.
At the opening, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev proposed preparing a national roadmap for the transition to post-quantum cryptography. His other priorities included secure use of AI agents, international threat intelligence sharing, specialist training and development of domestic solutions. The roadmap remains a proposal; its approval has not been announced.
According to the minister, Kazakhstan has identified more than 400 critical digital facilities and has over 40 security operations centers and ten testing laboratories. Their task is to protect the systems on which government services and businesses depend.
Cyber threats demonstrated in practice
Technical subjects were explained through demonstrations in the exhibition area. At the entrance, guests were greeted by a TSARKA robot dog that could describe the company’s services. One stand demonstrated face swapping, replacing a person’s image with someone else’s appearance. It illustrated why a familiar face on a screen can no longer serve as the sole proof of identity.
Combating fraud was another conference topic. According to figures presented at KazHackStan, more than 3,500 cases of internet fraud have been solved in Kazakhstan since the start of 2026. The Anti-Fraud Center helped prevent losses exceeding one billion tenge, while telecom operators blocked 163.2 million fraudulent telephone connections. The number of connections is not equivalent to the number of individual crimes.
At the “Stop Pyramid” project’s stand, visitors learned how to recognize suspicious financial offers. The project maintains a database for checking organizations and schemes showing signs of a pyramid scheme or other deception.
The exhibition also featured companies working in digital infrastructure and information security, including PS.kz. Innotech, a technology university developing educational programs in partnership with Arizona State University, was also represented. Cybersecurity is one of its study areas.
The question facing small businesses
Discussions at the stands addressed the affordability of cybersecurity for smaller companies. Small businesses also need to protect websites, accounts, customer data and employee access. Continuous monitoring and specialist work, however, involve costs that not every company can afford. Defining a sufficient and affordable set of security measures for small businesses is a separate challenge for the market.
KazHackStan’s hands-on program continues in the competition halls. The conference hosts CyberKumbez and selection of school students for Kazakhstan’s team at the 2027 International Cybersecurity Olympiad. Finals are scheduled for September 30. That day’s program also shifts toward technical analysis of attacks, vulnerabilities and secure development.
