West IT & Security Leaders Forum 2024

As the digital economy continues to expand, institutions must adapt to remain competitive and relevant. This session will explore the key trends shaping the future of the digital economy and how institutions can effectively enable their digital transformation. Topics will include advancements in digital infrastructure, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the importance of data analytics, and the shift towards digital-first business models. Experts will discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by these trends, providing practical insights on how institutions can leverage technology to enhance efficiency, innovation, and customer engagement. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategic steps necessary to thrive in the digital economy.

Moderator: Rob Strickland, Former CIO, T-Mobile, CEO & President, M37

The overall business transition to the Cloud is happening far faster than many experts predicted. That speed has left most companies reliant on security platforms built for a bygone world dominated by on-premises data centers. The covid pandemic further accelerated and complicated the situation, stressing CISOs and CIOs who are responsible for protecting a work-from-home staff that may not ever fully return to the office. Organizations are rapidly adopting SASE to safeguard data wherever it moves, support digital transformation efforts, and realize better efficiency and ROI from their technology. Come hear how Netskope’s converged SASE platform provides AI-driven zero trust security and simplified, optimized connectivity to any network location or device, including IoT.

Presented by: Netskope

This session will dive into effective strategies for securing sensitive data within SaaS environments, addressing concerns such as data leakage, access control, and compliance. Attendees will gain insights into the latest tools and best practices for maintaining a robust security posture in an increasingly complex SaaS landscape.

In today’s digital landscape, the traditional network perimeter has dissolved. Identity has emerged as the new security perimeter, representing the most critical attack surface for adversaries. As organizations increasingly adopt cloud-based services, remote workforces, and interconnected applications, managing identities and Identity Providers (IDPs) has become central to ensuring security. However, these same identities are also being targeted, manipulated, and abused by cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to valuable data and resources.

This session will explore the evolving role of identity in cybersecurity, providing a deep dive into how identities and IDPs are leveraged—both legitimately and maliciously. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Zero Trust model and why it is essential for today’s security strategy. We will discuss common security failures, such as over privileged access, poor password hygiene, and inadequate monitoring, and identify tools and best practices that can help organizations strengthen their identity security posture.

Participants will walk away with actionable insights on how to better protect identities, implement effective Zero Trust principles, and adopt identity-focused security strategies that mitigate risks in an ever-evolving threat environment. Armed with these best practices, security leaders will be well-equipped to build resilient defenses against today’s most sophisticated cyber threats.

Speaker: Patrick Ramseier, Global Security Specialist Engineering, Tenable

Presented by: Tenable

Join us as we explore cutting-edge strategies for modernizing infrastructure and applications. In this discussion, we delve into the intersection of AI-powered observability security, emphasizing how organizations can enhance their operations, ensure data protection, and comply with regulations. We will discuss the transformative potential of AI, including Generative AI, in boosting overall productivity.

Presented by: Dynatrace

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Delve into the flaws of the traditional cybersecurity landscape and how a modern SOC should focus on outcome-based services without relying on logs or the cost and complexity of a SIEM.

Speaker: Hamlet Khodaverian, VP, Americas, LMNTRIX

Presented by: LMNTRIX

As most recent studies have confirmed, adversaries are using AI to improve their tactics to launch targeted cyberattacks on organizations. This talk will analyze how Adversaries are using AI in their attack methods and what has changed from before, in their operations. The second part of the session will delve into how security teams can leverage AI to counterattack threat actors and use AI to build and improve their defenses.

Speaker: Mani Keerthi Nagothu, Americas Field CISO Associate Director, SentinelOne

Presented by: SentinelOne

Check back for updates on this session. 

Submitted by: Vulcan

This session will explore key strategies for bolstering data protection in hybrid and multi-cloud settings. Topics will include advanced backup and recovery solutions, effective disaster recovery planning, data encryption, and modern ransomware protection techniques such as immutable backups to ensure data security and resilience across diverse environments.

As organizations adapt to technological advancements, remote collaboration tools, and changing workforce dynamics, the CIO emerges as a key strategist, orchestrating digital transformation initiatives and ensuring seamless integration of technology into the fabric of the modern workplace. This Panel will discuss how CIOs can drive innovation, enhance cybersecurity measures, and foster a flexible and inclusive work environment to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the future of work.

Panelists:

John Jiang, CTO, VESS

Jason Frame, CIO, Southern Nevada Health District

Zac Martin, VP, AI & IT Ops, LPL Financial

Open seating, Buffet-style lunch. Serving food for all tastes, pallets and preferences. Vegan, vegetarian, halal options available

In this presentation we will provide insights around the inherent risks related to using Generative AI, self-trained LLMs and AI workloads. With data at the heart of any AI usage, we will cover efficient methodologies for identifying and mitigating your own risk to safely enable AI, making your workforce more productive and driving toward the innovation AI promises. Specifically the topic will engage the audience to consider how understanding the data set, its sensitivity, the access to it from internal employees to third parties, and how data will be used and created. Protecting data wherever it goes and ensuring compliance through the AI journey.

Learning Objectives: In this presentation the audience will learn about the inherent risks surrounding AI and therefore data within the enterprise. Marrying key objectives around cloud security, governance risk and compliance, risk management and threat detection/prevention through the AI lifecycle.

Presented by: Varonis

Cyber risk scoring and quantification provide a practical framework that connects technical details with business needs, helping leaders understand and act on complex security data. By combining financial modeling, threat intelligence, real-world examples, and AI-powered monitoring, this approach clarifies risk, enabling informed, strategic decisions. As digital threats grow more sophisticated, effective cyber risk management becomes critical to maintaining resilience, compliance, and a competitive edge.

Speaker: Jason Dablow, Principal Engineer, Trend Micro

Presented by: Trend Micro

With the growing reliance on SaaS applications, misconfigurations and emerging threats pose significant risks to your cloud environment. This session will dive into how SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) can provide advanced detection and response strategies to identify vulnerabilities, secure configurations, and respond to threats in real-time. Join us to gain actionable insights into strengthening your SaaS security posture and protecting your organization’s critical data.

Check back for updates on this session.

Speaker: Emily Cellar, VP of IT Security & Infrastructure, iFIT

In the age of AI, cybersecurity must balance the strengths of AI with the irreplaceable human element. While AI excels at rapidly analyzing data and detecting threats, it lacks the intuition, adaptability, and ethical judgment of human experts. Effective risk mitigation requires blending AI’s speed and precision with human oversight, ensuring cybersecurity remains agile, ethical, and resilient in the face of evolving threats. Join this session to explore how to strike the right balance and build a future-proof cybersecurity strategy.

Speaker: Tina Lampe, Director – IT Software Engineering, DirecTV

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Cyber threats are more prevalent than ever and security teams are faced with the daunting task of optimizing their security posture while balancing budget, risk, and operational efficiency. With even the most sophisticated security stack plagued with coverage gaps and vulnerabilities, security teams are fatigued and don’t want to add yet another security tool.

Sometimes help comes from an unexpected corner. Modern backup and data security can help IT and security come together and solve problems. Learn what a data security and protection partner like Druva can do to help strengthen your security posture and streamline your incident response and recovery workflows. We will cover:

• What typically occurs in each phase of a cyber attack
• Common security coverage gaps in your data infrastructure
• How to work better with your IT and backup teams

Presented by: Druva

As cyber threats continue to evolve in complexity and scale, the importance of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) has never been more critical. In this session we’ll delve into the current state of the MDR market, examining key trends, emerging technologies, and the competitive landscape that shapes this dynamic field. Join us to gain insights that will help your organization navigate the complexities of modern cybersecurity challenges.

In an age where regulatory compliance is increasingly complex and stringent, cybersecurity has become a critical focus for organizations worldwide. This session will delve into the intricate relationship between cybersecurity and regulatory compliance, highlighting the latest regulations and standards that organizations must adhere to. Topics will include GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and other regional and industry-specific regulations, as well as the implications of non-compliance. Experts will discuss strategies for integrating compliance into cybersecurity frameworks, the role of continuous monitoring, and the importance of maintaining up-to-date documentation and reporting practices. Attendees will learn how to navigate the regulatory landscape, implement best practices, and ensure their cybersecurity measures align with legal requirements to protect both their data and their reputation.

Panelist: Gourav Nagar, Director – Information Security, BILL

Aggressive attacks on Enterprise computer networks are continuing with increased frequency and threatening economic and national security. Actions like vulnerability reduction and passive defenses on their own simply are not cutting it and there needs to be a functional shift in the way we mitigate this substantial threat. Companies can seek to protect their most sensitive data by implementing an environment of actionable intelligence and detection to bring the fight to the adversaries and ensure a proactive approach to securing data. This session will discuss best practices in managing the constant evolution in the security environment.

Moderated by: Cyera

Panelists:

Ray Lipps, CISO, Broadcom

Deborah Enright, CISO, West Coast University

Gary Eckman, VP of Cyber Security & Governance, Dyno Nobel

Chris Stoneley, CISO, Cathay Bank

Threat actors, Red-Teams, and Ransomware have been abusing Active Directory for years. In fact, attackers have compromised or leveraged AD in 100% of the successful ransomware attacks over the last 3 years. This discussion will discuss new technologies to help you visualize the risk in your AD and add a layer of security around this very important part of enterprise infrastructure.

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AI is evolving from a mere tool to a transformative catalyst for enterprise innovation. While it unlocks new business models and enhances decision-making through actionable insights, it also poses significant risks related to data privacy, security, and ethics.

Key Points:

• AI as a Catalyst for Change: Understanding how AI can drive business transformation and efficiency.
• Balancing Innovation and Risk: Addressing the dilemma faced by security teams—restricting AI use or risking exposure.
• Tools for Success: Providing CIOs & CISOs with enforcement tools and developers with AI security solutions to promote safe and rapid innovation.
• Future Resilience: Empowering organizations to navigate evolving markets by fostering responsible AI use.

Join us in exploring how to harness AI’s potential while safeguarding your organization’s future.

Speaker: David Ho, Senior Director – AI, Cybersecurity, and Technology Assurance, Salesforce

To meet the speed and agility demands of digital business, CIOs are transforming their IT departments and shifting a growing share of IT work from projects to products. At the same time, growth in business-led IT has expanded the span of employees across the enterprise who are responsible for technology initiatives.

This session will explore a cost management model and discuss how evolving IT cost management efforts to focus on value over pure cost will reduce (and even eliminate) reactive calls to cut IT costs. This session will provide a model and tactics to elevate the maturity of IT to focus on value over costs, while still meeting the business directives.

Speaker: Shawnna DelHierro, Master of Ceremonies