2023 Cybersecurity Breakfast Forum

Join the Arizona Technology Council (AZTC) and Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance (ACTRA) for the 8th annual Cybersecurity Breakfast Forum on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

The Cybersecurity Breakfast Forum is an opportunity for government and business leaders to learn about the threats, vulnerabilities and consequences related to data security and privacy matters. This educational forum will provide actionable solutions from real-world practitioners to help protect your intellectual property and customer data.

Event Agenda (Subject to Change):

7:45 AM | Breakfast/Networking/Exhibits

8:30 AM | Opening Remarks/Sponsor Welcome

• Steven G. Zylstra, President & CEO, Arizona Tech Council
• Frank J. Grimmelmann, President & CEO, Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance, Inc. (ACTRA)

9:00 AM | Panel Discussion | “Proven Practical Solutions for Responding to the Emerging Cyber Threat Landscape”

As the digital world rapidly evolves, the emerging threat landscape, significantly marked by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), presents unparalleled challenges and risks to global cybersecurity. This panel will delve into practical solutions for addressing these novel threats, emphasizing the necessity to augment conventional cybersecurity strategies with AI-driven defense mechanisms, continuous learning models, and proactive incident response systems. Participants will gain insights into the potential vulnerabilities posed by AI, learn best practices for safeguarding sensitive data and systems, and explore the future trajectory of AI in shaping the security paradigm.

• Bert Odinet, CIO, Freeport McMoRan Corporation
• Matt Key, Principal Storage, Technical Specialist, IBM Advanced Technology Group – FlashSystem
• Donna Kidwell, Chief Information & Privacy Officer, Arizona State University
• Art Hansen, Chairman & Co-Founder, INCUS5
• Rich Phillips, Chief Principal Architect, Mercury Insurance
• Moderator: Frank J. Grimmelmann, President & CEO, Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance, Inc. (ACTRA)

9:50 AM | Opening Keynote Speaker | “Speed, Scale, Complexity: Navigating the Modern Threat Landscape”

Today’s threat landscape is dynamic and complex. Palo Alto Networks has a certain level of telemetry that can accurately make sense of the attack trends in order to help create and implement better, stronger cyber-defenses. Wendi Whitmore, SVP of Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks, will share critical insights into the state of the evolving threat landscape – and what businesses need to consider about attacks as they confront how to secure against them. Wendi will discuss real-world incident response cases and peel back the curtain on some recent threat intelligence reports to illustrate new challenges presented to businesses in the evolving world of cybersecurity.

• Wendi Whitmore, Senior Vice President, Unit 42, Palo Alto Network

10:15 AM | Spotlight Interview | Washington, D.C. Update

• Megan Stifel, Chief Strategy Officer, Institute for Security and Technology
• Caroline G. Lynch, Founder & Owner, Copper Hill Strategies, LLC.

10:45 AM | Quick Break

11:00 AM |  Keynote Presentation | “Born out of a Breach: Adversarial Machine Learning is the Newest Attack Frontier”

Born our of a real-world breach, in 2019 the founders of HiddenLayer led the incident response to a novel attack on Cylance’s AI anti-virus engine. They realized in that moment, Machine Learning Models would be the new cybersecurity attack surface. Today, we have entered into an AI arms race with the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across virtually every industry and business sector. Along with it comes the inherent cybersecurity risks and threats from a new attack vector called Adversarial Machine Learning.

• Hiep Dang, Vice President of Product, Hidden Layer

11:25 AM | Presenting Sponsor Power Presentation | “Utilizing Artificial Intelligence for Physical Security of Cyber Systems”

Explore the powerful intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and video analytics for protecting physical assets of cyber systems, and how these technologies can revolutionize physical security by providing proactive and intelligent monitoring capabilities.

• Kelly Rein, Senior Director of Product, Claro Enterprise Solutions

11:45 AM | Spotlight Presentation | “Small Business Needs Big Cybersecurity”

Explore the Why of Small Business cybersecurity along side the laws which drive it. Learn about the many resources available to U.S. Small Business to support them on their cybersecurity journey. And, get all your questions answered.

• Kelley Kiernan, Director, Department of the Air Force/Space Force Blue Cyber Initiative

12:00 PM | Spotlight Presentation | “Cybersecurity is Homeland Security”

Before joining GMI, Mr. Roemer was appointed as the Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security in 2021 and served as the State’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), managing cybersecurity for the State of Arizona. Prior to his service to the State of Arizona, Mr. Roemer served 10 years in the CIA and two years in the White House Situation Room briefing the President and executive staff.

• Tim Roemer, Chief Security Officer, GMI

12:15 PM | Spotlight Presentation | “Things that Matter are Hard”

The CISO role at the core is about trust. Its hard to get and easy to lose. Addressing the hard truths that we face, perspectives will be shared on how to manage conflicts that bring integrity into question as we execute our role. Discussion will include cyber risk goals to frame what matters most, material events that could affect your organization, its stakeholders & even society.

• Malcolm Harkins, Board Member, Author & Executive Coach, Protect to Enable

12:30 PM | Closing Keynote | “Cybersecurity and Cyber Operations: John Wooden…and Paying Attention to the Basics”

• Pete Kim, Executive Director, Cybersecurity External Engagements and Partnerships, RTX Corporation (Raytheon Missiles and Defense)

12:55 PM | Closing remarks

1:00 PM | Event Ends

Sponsorship Opportunities

Want to sponsor the 2023 Cybersecurity Breakfast Forum?
Contact the AZTC at [email protected] for great sponsorship opportunities.