The closing session framed the value of the two-day ONE Conference as connection, shared learning, and renewed focus on practical cyber resilience. The host opened by asking what had stood out, and the speakers described the event as both enjoyable and meaningful: one highlighted how much there was to tell, share, and connect around, while another, attending the ONE for the first time, said it was a “true joy” and an honor to learn more about the community, hear the talks, and see the proactivity across the field.

The conversation then turned to the Ukrainian colleagues who had just spoken and to the speaker’s own visit to Ukraine in August. The most striking comparison was between air raid sirens in the Netherlands and in Kyiv. In the Netherlands, the Monday siren is treated as a routine test; in Kyiv, it means drones and ballistic missiles may be coming. The speaker connected this to the cyber world’s idea of a tabletop exercise, asking how seriously exercises are being taken when, for Ukrainian colleagues, the scenarios are real life. This led directly to the resilience message for the Netherlands: keep the basics in order and remember that the situations discussed are already happening elsewhere.

The session also reviewed a significant year of organizational change for the NCSC. The speaker recalled that the planned January 1 merger with D2C and CSIRT DSP had happened, the reorganization had taken place on July 1, and the hoped-for Cybersecurity Act was now in place. On that basis, the speaker said the NCSC is ready. Looking ahead, the discussion identified AI as something that will keep everyone busy in the coming year, with emphasis not only on challenges but also on how AI can be used to the community’s benefit.

The final message was deliberately practical: follow the five basic principles of the NCSC and get basic cyber hygiene in order. The speaker hoped that, after the stories shared during the day and the closing session, attendees could return next year and say real progress had been made. The close also recognized the event team, announced the next ONE Conference dates as 5 and 6 October 2027, encouraged attendees to complete the feedback form, and ended by inviting everyone to networking drinks.