[1 CPE] Don’t Build a Fire Department

  Presented by Andrew Schori, Enterprise Account Executive • Arctic Wolf

Building and maintaining an internal SOC operation is hard. We’ll discuss why it’s imperative that organizations lean on 3rd party partners to provide 24×7 monitoring across your collective attack surfaces.

[1 CPE] Cyber Threats: Facts, Frauds, and Fallout

  Presented by Robert L. Kardell, Esq. • INTERFACE Advisory Council

This session will explore the current trends of cyber threats, crypto frauds, including the trading platforms, and the international aspects of the cryptocurrency exchanges. We will also review how the platforms are being used to commit fraud as well as the investigative steps necessary to identify the ultimate recipients of the trades and transfers. Finally, we will discuss the investigation and litigation steps necessary to protect consumers from cyber threats and cryptocurrency scams and the discovery and recovery processes.

Robert L. Kardell (Bob) is an attorney whose practice focuses on cyber-breach incident response, legal and technology-based risk management solutions, technology and cyber-defense policy and protections, intrusion remediation, and fraud prevention and investigation. Bob has more than 22 years of experience working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Special Agent and Supervisory Special Agent, as well as a Program Coordinator for Public Corruption, Complex Financial Crime, Healthcare Fraud, and Domestic Terrorism.

[1 CPE] The Human Factor: Quantifying Human Risk

  Presented by Sara Anstey, Director of Data Analytics and Risk  • Novacoast

This talk will explore the growing field of human risk management and quantification, diving into the next step in an organization’s risk journey: quantifying people. We will discuss where the market is, how people are adopting it, and what organizations can gain from human risk management.

Join this session on the emerging and evolving field of human risk quantification, which aims to apply quantitative methods to assign risk scores to every employee at a company based on their actions and access. This space is very similar to where cyber risk quantification was about 4 years ago when there were a few start-ups in the market and a few active voices on LinkedIn advocating for the adoption of these practices. Now, human risk quantification is an organizational priority. Having done extensive research into where the players in the market are and how companies utilize these strategies, human risk quantification has become the next step of a risk journey for many companies. Over 80% of breaches involve the human element –– if organizations want to stop them, they need to understand how the people they employ affect their security posture.

[1 CPE] SLED Challenges: Budgets, Compliance, E-Rate

  Presented by Michael Townsend, Solutions Architect, & Robert Gherbaz, vCIO • Barracuda & BlackPoint IT

SLED (State/Local Government, Education) customers face unique challenges when adopting new technologies, such as limited budgets, lengthy approval processes, and outdated infrastructure. With over 30 years of experience in the K-12 education sector, Michael understands these hurdles firsthand. His deep insight into the constraints faced by SLED organizations enables him to guide decision-makers through the complexities of implementing new solutions.

In the cybersecurity space, where threats evolve rapidly, Michael helps SLED customers navigate the landscape while working within the confines of limited resources and procedural barriers. His “been there, done that” experience ensures that SLED clients overcome challenges and adopt essential technologies.

[1 CPE] Sprung a Leak! Unit 42’s 2024 Leak Site Analysis

  Presented by Palo Alto Networks & Structured

Unit 42 monitors ransomware and extortion leak sites closely to keep tabs on threat activity and monitors data from dedicated leak sites (DLS) that are often only accessible through the dark web. Throughout our analysis, we compare activity results so that we are accounting for any seasonal fluctuations that can occur due to annual holidays, travel seasons and other recurring events that may impact threat activity. Here we will take a dive into those key leak site trends impacting the state of cybersecurity.

[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] AI in Cybersecurity: Navigating the Double-Edged Sword

  Presented by Johan Bloomhart, Principal Sales Engineer • WatchGuard & BlackPoint IT

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has introduced both transformative opportunities and unprecedented risks to the cybersecurity landscape. While AI is a powerful tool for automating threat detection and enhancing security protocols, it also presents new avenues for cybercriminals to launch more sophisticated attacks. In AI in Cybersecurity: Navigating the Double-Edged Sword, we’ll explore AI’s dual impact—empowering both defenders and attackers—and discuss how to harness AI responsibly to protect against emerging threats.

This session will cover:

  • An overview of AI’s evolution and its prominence in the modern business world.
  • How malicious actors exploit AI for nefarious purposes, and the vulnerabilities that arise.
  • How cybersecurity professionals use AI to fortify defenses, identify threats, and mitigate risks.
  • Predictions for AI’s long-term influence on the security industry.
  • The latest technological tools and techniques that can mitigate the risks posed by AI.

We’ll also offer guidance on developing an artificial intelligence policy that allows your organization to leverage AI’s productivity benefits while minimizing risks to data security. Participants will walk away with actionable insights into how to implement AI securely in their business, staying ahead of both competitors and cyber threats.

[1 CPE] Moving to Agile at Gonzaga: Lessons Learned

  Presented by Borre Ulrichsen • Chief Information Officer, Gonzaga University

Gonzaga is seeing an increasing need for flexibility and agility in implementing and supporting information technology in a higher education environment that is constantly evolving. In this session, Borre Ulrichsen, Chief Information Officer, will cover the drivers behind Gonzaga’s transition to agile, how information technology worked with the community during the transition, and some of the benefits the university is reaping from this new way of working.

Borre Ulrichsen has served as the Chief Information Officer at Gonzaga University since August 2016. From 2011 to 2016 he was the Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice President for IT Services at California State University, East Bay. From 2002 to 2011, he was the Director of Information Systems Projects at San Francisco State University. Previous to that he held various IT leadership roles in the private sector. Borre completed his MBA at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. He also earned a master’s degree in engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

[1 CPE] Proactive Threat Mitigation Through East/West Traffic Isolation

  Presented by HPE Aruba Networking & Structured

Ransomware and targeted cyber security threats are on the rise. A proactive prevention strategy should use both tried and proven methodologies as well as new and emerging technologies. East West traffic identification and isolation is key in preventing malicious content from spreading, both in the Data Center and at the Campus Edge of the network. We will focus on innovative approaches to address the security compliance, performance, agility, and scalability demands of today’s highly distributed, hybrid, network environments.

[1 CPE] Demystifying Zero Trust: Simplifying Network Security

  Presented by Tanner Harrison, Systems Engineer • Fortinet

Today’s ever-changing threat landscape challenges traditional security models. The emergence of the Zero Trust model represents a transformative approach, reshaping how organizations protect their assets. This presentation aims to demystify Zero Trust, offering a comprehensive understanding that goes beyond buzzwords. We will explore the foundational concepts of Zero Trust, emphasizing the “never trust, always verify” philosophy. By the end of this session, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge to begin their Zero Trust journey, enhancing their security posture, and protecting critical data and systems from modern threats. Whether you are a security professional, IT manager, or organizational leader, this discussion will empower you to take decisive action toward a more secure future.