The Perimeter Protection Congress took place for the first time on 22 and 23 April 2026 at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. Under the title “The New Dimension – The Digital Twin in Perimeter Security”, powered by the Association for Security Technology (Verband für Sicherheitstechnik e. V., VfS), this Connected Event at the Perimeter Protection trade fair brought together nearly 200 participants. Experts from industry, planning and operations discussed current developments in security policy, technological innovations and new strategic approaches to perimeter security in 3D. The congress programme was complemented by an accompanying table-top exhibition, where 15 companies presented their solutions and systems and engaged in in-depth professional discussions.
In light of current regulatory developments and the changing security policy landscape, Dipl.-Ing. Carsten Feddern, Managing Director of the Association for Security Technology (Verband für Sicherheitstechnik e. V.), and Peter Ottmann, CEO of NürnbergMesse Group, opened the Perimeter Protection Congress. Feddern emphasised the strategic importance of the new format and explained: “Against the backdrop of the recent publication of the CRITIS umbrella law and the uncertainties this continues to cause among operators of critical infrastructure, we could not have found a better time for the Perimeter Protection Congress.” In view of increasing international conflicts and rising risks of sabotage, the biennial cycle of the Perimeter Protection trade fair is no longer sufficient. There is a clear need within the industry for continuous exchange on current security technology solutions, which the congress specifically addresses. This dynamic has also prompted NürnbergMesse to bundle its security-related events into a strategic security cluster in future, according to Ottmann. “This security cluster comprises Enforce Tac – the leading trade fair for security and defence, it-sa Expo&Congress – the trade fair for IT security, and Perimeter Protection – the international trade fair for perimeter security – and reinforces the holistic approach to security issues across all levels,” announced CEO Ottmann.
Physical security as part of the CRITIS umbrella law
A key focus of the substantive discussions was the CRITIS umbrella law, which was passed in March 2026 following a draft bill that had been in circulation since 2024. As a cross-sectoral regulatory framework, it closes a previously existing regulatory gap and significantly broadens the scope of critical infrastructure protection. Whilst regulations such as NIS-2 already provided specific guidelines for cyber security, the CRITIS umbrella law now explicitly includes physical security as well. “Cyber, IT and physical security must be discussed together,” emphasises Dipl.-Ing. Carsten Feddern in his conference presentation “CRITIS Framework Act: Current Status and Outlook”.
The umbrella law covers a total of ten sectors, for each of which specific thresholds are set out in separate statutory instruments. These sectors are highly interdependent, whilst at the same time the fragility of complex systems continues to increase. The aim of the CRITIS umbrella law is therefore to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure systematically and sustainably.
However, the challenge is that the associated statutory regulations are not yet in place, whilst the statutory deadlines for companies affected by the CRITIS umbrella law are already running. Companies are therefore urged to take action at an early stage, as inspections have been announced and will take place.
They receive support in this from the VfS, which provides guidance through a practical CRITIS guide and makes this available via its website. The guide recommends that companies first assess their exposure, then carry out a gap analysis, develop a resilience plan and establish contact with the relevant authorities at an early stage. As the VfS expressly states: “Resilience is not a one-off measure, but a continuous process – the CRITIS umbrella law provides the binding framework for this.”
3D perimeter security
Another key focus area, and indeed the theme that gives the conference its name, is 3D perimeter security, which is increasingly becoming a central issue for the future of the security industry. Under the banner of the “digital twin”, the aim is to create a comprehensive digital representation of physical infrastructure and to consolidate security-related information across all levels.
Unlike traditional, two-dimensional security concepts, the 3D approach enables an integrated view of sites, buildings, technical systems and processes throughout their entire lifecycle. In this way, 3D perimeter security lays the foundation for robust simulations, forward-looking planning and an integrated combination of physical, IT and cyber security – an approach that is already established in other industries and is now being specifically adapted to the requirements of the security sector.
It is crucial to establish clarity on what information is actually required even before the start of digitalisation, explains Thomas Kirmayr from the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP in Valley in his article “SMART data models for digitalised property management”. Only on this basis should data be systematically collected and integrated in order to develop targeted data models and thus digital twins that are usable in the long term and are not overloaded with unnecessary data.
In addition to the CRITIS umbrella law and 3D perimeter security, the congress programme focused on other key topics such as cloud technologies, BIM-based planning, biometric procedures, the NIS-2 Directive and the integration of cyber, IT and physical security.
“With the Perimeter Protection Congress, we have created a platform that combines strategic issues relating to perimeter security with practical solutions,” explains Executive Director Benedikt Weyerer, drawing a positive conclusion: “The successful launch confirms our approach of further developing the trade fair and congress as an integrated overall experience.”
Perimeter Protection 2027
The topics discussed at the Perimeter Protection Congress will be explored in greater depth at the upcoming Perimeter Protection event. From 19 to 21 January 2027, the international trade fair at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre will bring together key players from the industry, revisiting key topics such as the CRITIS umbrella law, 3D perimeter security and the digital twin.