OpenVPN [Con]nected 2026 is a free, half-day virtual event on October 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The annual event brings together security leaders, IT professionals, partners, and innovators to talk about AI, Zero Trust, and what's next for OpenVPN Access Server and CloudConnexa. Register for free and join the sessions that fit your schedule.
Note: This isn't a day full of marketing jargon. Instead, it is your direct line to our product team, a place to get live support, network with other people in roles just like yours, and importantly, it's a place to get technical. Each session is highly interactive with live Q&As, as well as a chat box to deep dive on your technical questions and suggestions.
This year is a special one. OpenVPN is turning 25, and we're celebrating by looking forward. AI is changing how businesses work, and it's changing what secure access needs to look like. [Con]nected is where we'll dig into both, with our own product teams and with guest speakers who are solving these problems every day.
Over the coming weeks, we'll introduce our guest speakers and the companies they represent. First, here's what you can expect on the day.
OpenVPN [Con]nected 2026 at a glance
- Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
- Format: Virtual. You'll get a magic link and calendar invite by email after you register.
- Cost: Free
- Who it's for: IT managers, network and cloud engineers, security leaders, MSPs, and partners
- Can't make it live? Replays will be emailed to all registrants. You'll also be able to catch the replays on our website and YouTube channels in the coming weeks. Registering is your fastest way to see all of the sessions you'd like.
Agenda preview: What's lined up
Here's a sneak peek at the sessions.
*All times are Eastern.
Every session includes live Q&A, and our support team is available all day for one-on-one help. The full agenda has every detail.
11:00 a.m. ET Keynote: What 45 businesses told us about security in the AI era
OpenVPN CEO Francis Dinha opens the day with findings from our research with 45 IT and business leaders. Among them: 40% of professionals have access to sensitive data they don't need, and only 27% of organizations revoke access immediately when roles change. Francis will unpack the barriers to Zero Trust adoption, what we call the "AI Willingness Paradox," and five steps you can act on right away. For background, read our research summary, Zero Trust Network Access and the Employee Access Problem.
11:30 a.m. ET 25 years of OpenVPN: Reflections on the protocol that built an industry
OpenVPN co-founder James Yonan looks back at how an open-source project became the protocol that businesses around the world rely on, from its cryptography foundations and community growth to partnerships with Apple, Google, and AWS.
12:00 p.m. ET What's next: Inside the Access Server product roadmap
Johan Draaisma shares updates on new Access Server features, Access Server Link, and upcoming ZTNA changes. Bring your feedback. This session is interactive, and your input helps shape roadmap priorities for Access Server.
12:30 p.m. ET CloudConnexa: Updates and roadmap in the age of AI
Yuriy Chapran covers what's coming to CloudConnexa, including two upcoming betas: AI Proxy, for visibility into AI traffic across your network, and MCP Gateway, for securing Model Context Protocol connections between AI agents and the tools they use.
1:00 p.m. ET Customer spotlight: Enabling development at scale
Zack Dunning, Senior Manager of Cloud Engineering at Buildertrend, walks through a real-world architecture that pairs CloudConnexa with Google Cloud Private Service Connect for secure access to cloud infrastructure.
1:30 p.m. ET Front lines of security: A candid conversation on real-world threats
OpenVPN's Jason Ng and Nick Finnegan moderate a panel with Sean T. Furman, Founder and Principal of STF Consulting; Luis Tarango, Director de Ingeniería at TGC; Brian Litzinger, OpenVPN's Head of Security, Compliance & Risk; and Andrew Proctor, OpenVPN's VP of IT Operations. They'll talk about current security trends, how AI is changing the picture, and practical Zero Trust Network Access strategies.
2:30 p.m. ET Securing the autonomous frontier: Zero Trust architecture for agentic AI workloads
Assaf Namer of Google Cloud shares a framework for securing autonomous AI agents, built on SPIFFE workload identity, privilege minimization, and continuous verification. He'll also show how Google Cloud capabilities such as Model Armor and Cloud KMS fit in. If you run OpenVPN on Google Cloud, start with our Google Cloud VPN page.
3:15 p.m. ET 2026 network layer attacks and remediation
Network attacks that once took specialized skills are now practical for almost anyone, and defenses that held up in 2025 may not be enough today. Micah Spady of SecureW2 shows how modern Layer 2 threats, including MAC spoofing and AirSnitch Wi-Fi attacks, can affect your network now. Then he turns to practical, high-level strategies to lock down your infrastructure: solid switching and segmentation, VPNs, and strong certificate-based authentication.
Why attend OpenVPN [Con]nected 2026?
- See the roadmap first. Get a direct look at what's next for Access Server and CloudConnexa, and tell our product managers what matters to you.
- Get ahead of AI security. Learn practical ways to see and control AI traffic and secure AI agents before they become a blind spot.
- Learn from peers. Hear how real teams design secure access at scale, and connect with other IT and security professionals.
- Get live help. Our support team is on hand from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET for configuration tips and one-on-one questions.
- It's free and flexible. Drop into the sessions you care about. You don't need to stay all day.
Want a taste of last year's event? Watch the OpenVPN [Con]nected 2025 session replays.
Frequently asked questions
When is OpenVPN [Con]nected 2026?
OpenVPN's annual event,[Con]nected 2026, takes place on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
Is OpenVPN [Con]nected free?
Yes. It's a free virtual event, and there's no software to buy or install.
Do I have to attend the whole event?
No. You can join only the sessions that fit your schedule.
Will sessions be recorded?
Yes. Replays will be emailed to all attendees and hosted on OpenVPN's website and YouTube channel in the weeks following the event.
How do I join?
After you register, you'll receive a magic link and a calendar invite by email. For more details, read the event FAQs.
Save your spot
Twenty-five years in, we're still focused on the same goal: helping businesses connect securely and with ease. We'd love for you to be part of the conversation about what comes next. Register for OpenVPN [Con]nected 2026 today. It's free.