In the past year, a major registration management platform was forced offline for days due to a cyber attack, causing multiple events to be disrupted.
This incident reminds the entire industry: cybersecurity is no longer just an internal IT issue, but a critical risk point directly related to event operational security and brand reputation.
Cybersecurity Challenges in the Digital Event Era
In the article "Does Your Event Tech Vendor Pose a Cybersecurity Risk?", industry consultant Brian Scott reminds us:
Technology platforms relied upon by event organizers and service providers (such as registration systems, attendee databases, exhibitor management systems, AI content services, mobile applications, etc.) should all undergo annual independent third-party cybersecurity audits and continuously update security compliance systems.
Digital Event Era: Risk is No Longer a "Backend Issue"
Every aspect of modern events is supported by technology: attendee registration, electronic badges, smart navigation, data collection, post-event tracking, etc.
When these systems have vulnerabilities, the risks are not just data breaches, but may also lead to:
• On-site registration system crashes and attendee congestion;
• Loss of exhibitor prospect data, affecting contract fulfillment;
• Damage to organizer reputation and insurance liability;
• International events facing GDPR and other data compliance risks.
As Scott says: "If your tech vendor goes down, your event goes down with it."
Attendees and exhibitors won't blame the system company; they'll directly question the organizer's management capabilities.
Security Assessment is Not a Cost, But Operational Insurance
In finance, healthcare, and government sectors, third-party cybersecurity assessments are standard practice.
However, the exhibition industry still shows significant lag: many tech vendors only conduct internal testing or rely on expired certifications.
Starrise believes this situation must change.
For organizers, requiring technology partners (including registration systems, online exhibition platforms, data analytics providers, etc.) to provide annually updated independent security assessment reports is a fundamental measure to protect brand and operational security.
Independent audits not only discover hidden vulnerabilities, verify control measures, and provide improvement paths, but more importantly: they give organizers risk warning and choice at the contract level. Once a vendor refuses to rectify issues or fails to meet standards, partners can be replaced in advance to avoid on-site crises.
A New Phase of "Shared Responsibility" in the Event Digital Ecosystem
Starrise Expo has also observed in serving international events:
With the widespread application of AI navigation, online matching systems, electronic contracts, and smart device integration, the digital touchpoints of events are infinitely extending, and the chain of responsibility is continuously lengthening.
This means:
• Organizers need to ensure secure interfaces for all systems;
• Design and construction companies must comply with on-site power and IoT device access security standards;
• Media and marketing platforms need to protect client information and attendee data;
• Exhibitors using AI content generation and attendee interaction technology should also follow data protection principles.
Future event organization is not just about constructing physical spaces, but coordinated management of digital security ecosystems.
Starrise Perspective: Security is the Invisible Design of Event Experience
From the perspective of booth design and construction, Starrise Expo has always advocated the philosophy of "visible space + invisible security."
This refers not only to structural and construction safety, but also digital protection: from data interfaces of smart screens to wireless network access permissions, every technical node is directly related to the event experience.
We believe that cybersecurity is also part of event experience design.
When every link in the organizer and supply chain has security awareness, the brand trust and international competitiveness of events can truly form.
Conclusion | The Future of Events Lies in "Resilience" and "Trust"
The global exhibition industry is rapidly entering a new phase of "data-driven" and "AI-empowered" development,
and behind high efficiency, the vulnerability of event operations is gradually shifting to the "digital security layer."
As the TSNN article points out:
"Your attendees expect safe, uninterrupted experiences.
Your exhibitors expect their data to be protected.
And your board expects you to manage risk."
This is also the responsibility that every exhibition service company should bear.
Starrise Expo will continue to monitor trends in event digitalization and security governance,
with an approach that emphasizes both design thinking and systematic security concepts,
to provide more reliable and sustainable event solutions for industry clients.
References
Source: Brian Scott, "Does Your Event Tech Vendor Pose a Cybersecurity Risk?", TSNN, October 24, 2025
Original link: https://www.tsnn.com/event-tech/does-your-event-tech-vendor-pose-a-cybersecurity-risk-
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