Archives: Seminar

[1 CPE] Can You Prevent a Cyberattack?

  Presented by Jeff Polczynski, Director of Solutions Architecture • 11:11 Systems

Sprawling cloud infrastructure, remote and hybrid work, and ever more brazen threat actors have made it nearly infeasible to have an answer for every threat vector encroaching upon your organization. How can you withstand the onslaught of attacks?

Let’s discuss how to build a comprehensive plan for preventing bad actors and malicious insiders from compromising your systems, disrupting your business operations, and harming your company brand.

Jeff T. Polczynski is the Director of Solutions Architecture at 11:11 Systems. Previously, he was a key member of the Network Engineering team, where he helped design and build the network infrastructure for the 11:11 Cloud. Jeff has more than 20 years of experience in data center, networking and security roles across government, financial services, and service provider companies. Outside of work, he loves backpacking and is always on the lookout for the perfect spot to hang his hammock for a night under the stars.

[1 CPE] Challenges and Solutions with Digital Public Services

  Presented by Mark Leech • Director of Technology and Innovation, City of Albuquerque

Local governments continue to face increasing needs for security while meeting expectations to expand digital public services. Strategies must keep up with modern standards for municipalities of greater transparency, growing digital toolsets, and increased mobility for workforce. This session will discuss how these and other solutions shape the digital landscape at the City of Albuquerque.

Mark Leech became the Deputy Director of the Department of Technology and Innovation at the City of Albuquerque in 2019. Before then, he managed the Albuquerque Police Department Technical Services Unit. Between 2008 and 2016, Leech led the City’s efforts in open data, transparency and innovation. As a software developer, he has worked extensively in both public and private sectors.

Director Leech moved from England to New Mexico in 2002 and holds an MSc. in Information Systems Engineering from the University of Wolverhampton, England.

Director Leech continues to support all departments and divisions at City Hall with innovative solutions to keep the City at the forefront of current tech needs, overseeing core city systems, networks, and applications to ensure the operations of City services.

[1 CPE] Cybersecurity Crisis: Generative AI Increasing Threats to Critical Infrastructure

  Presented by Kristen Lucero, Manager, Infosec Cyber Operations and Engineering, PNM Resources • ISACA New Mexico

Cyber threats are on the rise impacting critical infrastructure not only at local and state levels but all across the globe. With the use of generative AI, threat actors are creating sophisticated phishing and social engineering campaigns at record speed. There has been a 30% increase in attacks on critical infrastructure since 2023. According to KnowBe4 that equates to 13 attacks per second.

Critical infrastructure or assets are so crucial to our livelihood that their destruction would have a serious impact from public health to national security. Some of these assets include transportation, supply chain, utilities, and government agencies. All these systems are interconnected starting at the local level. A disruption in one can cause a domino effect on the others.

How are threat actors using generative AI and are organizations developing resilient cybersecurity programs? Are organizations implementing generative AI in their security stack? Developing a strong security culture starts with the basics: training and assessments. Integrating these and other practices into your cybersecurity program will develop a strong security culture to increase resiliency and protection against an evolving threat landscape.

[1 CPE] AI: Friend or Foe? An Open Discussion with Your Colleagues

  Presented by INTERFACE Advisory Council

Artificial Intelligence has made a mark already and its use will only continue to expand. Are we fully prepared to embrace AI in our workplaces? Viewpoints differ on how widely AI should be used at this point. Commonly used applications and software now include AI capabilities as a part of their standard offerings. How is this governed in your company? Do you even have an AI policy drafted?

Join the INTERFACE Advisory Council for an open discussion on all things AI. We will cover the risks associated with using AI –– and the risk of NOT using it. What knowledge do you need right now? Also, we will cover the best uses for AI in IT processes. There will be an open discussion about what is working well in IT shops around New Mexico. Bring your questions as we explore the starting points that every IT department needs to consider for an effective AI policy.

Panelists:

  • Richard Garcia, Associate Director of Infrastructure, PNM Resources
  • Kevan Hobbs, IT Supervisor, PNM Resources
  • Jason Johnson, Deputy State CIO, State of New Mexico
  • Jessica Johnson, Sr Manager, IT Security & Program Operations, Westrock

[1 CPE] IT Leadership: How to Grow to Next Level and Be a Better Leader

  Presented by Phillip Abeyta, CEO of TEC34 and Board Member • New Mexico Technology Council

You stare at multiple screens each day monitoring logs and looking for irregularities in data. Later today, you will spend thirty minutes helping someone access their email and reset a password. Many IT professionals can feel isolated from a company mission as they go through their daily tasks. Especially with remote working, bonding with your team and exhibiting leadership can be a challenge.

Having strong leaders in your organization is a vital element of success. Inspiration can come in many forms, and a strong leader always looks to get the most out of any task. As you consider your own career ambitions, how successful are you at being a leader each day? Join Phillip Abeyta, Chief Executive Officer of TEC 34, for a comprehensive approach to exhibiting leadership in IT. As an expert in the technology that runs your business, people rely on you to display the efficiencies that come from embracing technology and its processes. CIOs and Engineers alike will walk away with several strategies they can use to improve their own leadership approach.

With over 15 years of experience in the IT sector and a passion for empowering businesses, Phil is at the helm of TEC34, guiding it to offer tailored consulting and professional services to help organizations tackle technical challenges head-on.

His leadership extends beyond the boardroom as he serves on community boards, including the New Mexico Tech Council since 2017. He will also start his Core Program with Leadership New Mexico in September, where he will undoubtedly continue to enhance his skills as he will work alongside great leaders across the State of New Mexico. Phil’s educational background in Electronics and Computer Engineering, combined with Business Administration and an ongoing MBA, showcases his dedication to continuous learning and growth.

[1 CPE] The Value of Cybersecurity

  Presented by Randy Macias, Manager of Engineering  • Ardham Technologies, Inc.

Cybersecurity is vital for protecting sensitive data, ensuring business continuity, and maintaining customer trust. By investing in robust measures, organizations can prevent costly breaches and support innovation while safeguarding national security. In today’s digital landscape, effective cybersecurity is essential for stability and growth.

[1 CPE] The Cybersecurity Threat Landscape

  Presented by Andrew Buschbom, Cybersecurity State Coordinator • CISA

In this session, Andrew Buschbom, the Cybersecurity State Coordinator for New Mexico for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), will present an overview of the current cybersecurity threat landscape. He will also provide several resources that are available at no cost from CISA. These cybersecurity resources can be added to your tool kit right now.

Andrew Buschbom is a Cybersecurity Specialist with 20 years of experience in Information Security. He previously worked for the State of New Mexico and the Federal Reserve where he had hands-on experience mitigating large, high-profile breaches and dealing with highly motivated global threat actors.

[1 CPE] Disaster Preparedness and Data Protection Strategies for Business Continuous Availability

  Presented by Matthew Kern, Sales Engineer • Arcserve

As natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and severe winter events become more frequent and intense, businesses face increasing economic and operational challenges. High-profile disasters, including the Camp Fire in 2018, which incurred a staggering $16.5 billion in damages, and Hurricane Maria’s profound impact on Puerto Rico, estimated at $139 billion for full recovery, underscore the escalating financial stakes.

This presentation will explore effective strategies to bolster business resilience in the face of natural catastrophes.

Key elements of the session will include:

  • Critical insights from Arcserve’s annual global research study on disaster preparedness.
  • A comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Checklist tailored for companies.
  • Practical tools designed to safeguard business operations and data resilience.

We will delve into the details of a 5-step disaster and ransomware recovery plan template, as well as the 3-2-1-1 backup strategy, which ensures robust data recovery through multiple backup copies stored both locally and offsite. By implementing these strategies, businesses can minimize financial losses, reduce operational downtime, and achieve a rapid recovery, thereby ensuring continuity even during catastrophic events. This session aims to arm business leaders with the essential tools and knowledge to safeguard their enterprises amidst an increasingly unpredictable global landscape.

[1 CPE] Securing the Modern Workplace with Island: A Revolutionary Enterprise Browser Solution

  Presented by Shawn Surber, Sales Engineer • Datec

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, securing the modern workplace presents unprecedented challenges and complexities. Traditional security measures often fall short in addressing the sophisticated threats that enterprises face, necessitating innovative solutions that can adapt to the dynamic nature of cyber risks. This presentation is designed to introduce a groundbreaking approach to digital security through the lens of Island, an enterprise browser built from the ground up with security and productivity at its core.

We will explore how Island is redefining the standards of enterprise security by offering a comprehensive suite of features tailored to protect and enhance the digital workspace. Attendees will gain insights into how Island’s unique architecture and security-focused functionalities, including advanced data loss prevention (DLP), granular access controls, and seamless integration with existing security ecosystems, are setting a new benchmark in browser capabilities.

Through real-world use cases and success stories, we will demonstrate Island’s effectiveness in mitigating risks, ensuring compliance, and fostering a secure yet flexible work environment. By focusing on the strategic advantages of deploying an enterprise browser solution, we aim to equip security professionals, IT leaders, and business executives with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of modern cybersecurity.

Join us to discover how Island is empowering organizations to embrace the future of work with confidence, balancing the need for rigorous security measures with the demands for productivity and innovation in the digital age.

[1 CPE] When It Comes to Security, The Right Tools Matter

  Presented by Jason Anderson, Channel Sales Engineer, SASE • HPE Aruba Networking & Structured

When it comes to security, the right tools matter. Securing your network no matter where your users are located can be difficult and complex. Over the last year, many IT leaders have embraced a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework to enable faster and more secure connectivity across their global organizations. SASE converges the functions of network and security solutions into a single, cloud-native service that delivers consistent connectivity and security from everywhere. Find out how HPE Unified SASE can help you with tools that are easy to deploy, configure, and manage.