IE2S at Enforce Tac 2026: Connected security as a strategic imperative
Rethinking security – the IE2S team at Europe’s leading defence and security trade fair
From 23 to 25 February 2026, a team from IE2S was on site at Enforce Tac in Nuremberg – Europe’s most important trade fair for internal and external security. This year’s edition was themed ‘Networked Security’ and broke all previous records with around 1,400 exhibitors from 45 countries and approximately 26,500 trade visitors from 100 nations. Under the patronage of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the exhibition sent a clear message: Security is a task for society as a whole, which can only succeed through the closest possible cooperation between politics, the armed forces, public authorities and industry.
For us, as a consultancy firm specialising in energy and resilience, attending the event was a valuable opportunity to experience current developments in the security and defence landscape first-hand and to gain new insights for our own work.
Three key takeaways from our visit to the trade fair
Critical infrastructure takes centre stage in the security debate
One of the dominant themes at Enforce Tac 2026 was the protection of critical infrastructure – from energy supply and communications networks to water supply and transport. Regulatory developments such as the KRITIS umbrella law and the growing threat posed by hybrid attack vectors make it clear that resilience is no longer optional. For IE2S, this confirms what we experience daily in our consultancy work: energy system security and national resilience are inextricably linked.
Interconnection as a systemic response – from sensor technology to the decision-making level
Enforce Tac 2026 impressively demonstrated how technological solutions are increasingly conceived as integrated systems – moving away from isolated products towards networked capabilities. In the Enforce Tac Village, communication systems, sensor technology, situational awareness and operational coordination were demonstrated in real-world scenarios. This systems-based approach, which we also consistently pursue in the energy transition, is a key prerequisite for a future-proof security architecture.
European sovereignty requires industrial capacity to act
A clear consensus emerged in panel discussions and expert talks: technological sovereignty is not a matter of what is desirable, but of Europe’s strategic survival. The discussions – ranging from the implementation of the Germany Operations Plan to the issue of European supply chain security – make it clear that industrial capability, innovation and political capacity for action must be intertwined. A message that is also directly relevant to the energy transition.
Exchange on equal terms – what we take away
In addition to the substantive insights, Enforce Tac offered one thing above all else: the opportunity to meet experts from a wide range of disciplines in person. Nothing can replace direct dialogue between government agencies, the armed forces, technology providers and consultancy firms such as IE2S. The bridge between strategic objectives and operational implementation – that is what becomes visible and tangible at events such as this.
We are taking away valuable insights for our work, particularly with regard to energy resilience, the protection of critical infrastructure and the role of digital systems in networked security architectures.
Do you have any questions about our impressions of the Enforce Tac, or would you like to find out more about our expertise in energy resilience?
Please contact us at: energysecurity@ie2s.com
