Baker Donelson and the Metro Atlanta Chamber announced the designation of Oct. 2-6 as Atlanta Cyber Week. The public-private partnership will facilitate multiple events that highlight the pillars of the city’s burgeoning cybersecurity ecosystem, exposing domestic and international audiences to the world class cyber workforce and resources unique to the Metro Atlanta region. Additionally, Atlanta Cyber Week will provide multiple opportunities for high-growth cybersecurity companies to interact in intimate ways not offered at major industry events with security decision makers from Atlanta’s abundance of Fortune 1000 enterprises. At the same time, CIOs, CISOs and CTOs will be afforded opportunities to have meaningful engagement with select cyber security firms, both domestic and international, to learn about product offerings most relevant to their needs.

“Metropolitan Atlanta’s startup ecosystem, workforce pipeline and technology expertise uniquely position the city as a global leader in cybersecurity,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “I encourage executives, entrepreneurs and investors to take advantage of all the opportunities available during Atlanta Cyber Week to connect with cybersecurity leaders and with our dynamic, thriving city.”

During the week of Oct. 2, Atlanta will welcome cybersecurity companies, international delegations, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers from around the world for a series of events aimed to foster customer development with the city’s prosperous Fortune 1000 decision makers. The week will also include various panel discussions on cybersecurity topics and networking events that showcase the vast talents and resources that make Atlanta a premier cybersecurity city.

“The majority of cybersecurity events have lost focus on what they were originally chartered to do: facilitate business interactions between cybersecurity companies and corporate and government buyers,” said Justin Daniels, a Baker Donelson shareholder and co-founder of its cybersecurity accelerator. “Atlanta Cyber Week will solve this problem by offering multiple opportunities for meaningful engagement between cyber companies and decision makers from Atlanta’s conglomerate of Fortune 1000s.”

Atlanta Cyber Week will be anchored by two events:

• Cybercon - In its third year, Cybercon will bring together business, government and academic leaders to discuss cybersecurity issues. The daylong event will include a fireside chat, expert panels and a pitch competition for emerging cyber companies. Applications for cybersecurity startups interested in the pitch competition will open early this summer.

• National Technology Security Council CISO Policy Conference - The NTSC, a national organization based in Atlanta whose mission is to advocate the views of the chief information security officer in cybersecurity policy and other matters, will host a joint reception. CISOs interested in attending can learn more at https://www.ntsc.org/events/ntsc-national-ciso-policy-conference.html.

Additional Cyber Week events will be announced continuously throughout the spring and summer.

“Atlanta is a premier destination for new and growing cybersecurity and serves as a beachhead for international companies seeking to expand to the United States,” said Hala Moddelmog, president and chief executive officer, Metro Atlanta Chamber. “Our cybersecurity infrastructure, combined with unprecedented access to potential corporate customers, is a competitive advantage that no other region can offer.”