Seattle CIO Executive Summit

Zero trust transformation is not a straightforward, linear process. Modern CIOs and CISOs must navigate a complex balance between technological advancement and the need to simplify and secure IT environments. The explosion of AI and recent technological disruptions served as a wake-up call to many organizations to scrutinize progress towards zero trust principles – for users, devices, and workloads. How can CIOs and CISOs take advantage of this momentum to accelerate their zero trust and AI-enabled transformation?

Join this session to learn:

• How a zero trust approach to IT can help secure organizations’ resources reliably and cost-effectively
• How to foster a cultural shift within the organization, ensuring employees and leadership understand and embrace zero trust principles
• How to manage the complexities of AI integration to create robust security frameworks

Today's varied threat landscape features both foreign and domestic security concerns that could stop or delay business operations. With so many avenues for malicious actors, how should CIOs and CISOs prioritize their resources to improve resiliency? Local U.S. Department of Homeland Security Chief of Cybersecurity and a Seattle FBI Cyber Task Force Special Agent will share ways to collectively develop and bolster defenses.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• Insights into the latest cyber threats and emerging trends
• Effective strategies for addressing the evolving threat landscape and bolstering defenses
• Best practices for collaboration between public and private entities

AI risk is quietly creeping into every corner of your enterprise, and you don’t even realize it. As more employees adopt AI-powered tools, applications, and processes, it is becoming deeply embedded in your tech stack — but it’s not just your employees using AI. Attackers are also leveraging AI to enhance their own tactics and sharpen their attacks. The real question for CISOs is: Do you have visibility into the countless ways AI is spreading, and what’s the best way to use AI to protect against AI?

Join this session to discuss:

• The hidden ways AI is entering your enterprise—from third-party tools to shadow AI projects—and why it’s slipping under the radar
• How attackers are using AI to improve their attacks and making them harder to detect by both legacy security tools and humans themselves
• Actionable steps for CISOs to gain visibility and control over AI use across the organization

Maturing your security posture requires knowing how to objectively assess your organization, use industry best practices and frameworks, and select the right tools to advance your business. This complex, time-intensive process often takes a backseat to defending yourself against ever-evolving threats. Getting started can be overwhelming, so finding time to assess and improve your security maturity is a tall task.

Join this session to discuss:

• Benchmarking SOC performance using common assessment frameworks and tools
• Determining your security maturity level, and how to fill gaps you’ve identified
• Analyzing the impact of data and AI on your security posture

Connect with like-minded peers in a one-on-one setting through Evanta’s Peer-to-Peer Meetings. You will be matched with peers in your community based on your shared interests and priorities.

Increased digitization over the past 50 years has transformed CIOs and CISOs from technical leaders to global business executives who leverage technology to achieve enterprise value. As today’s leaders promote the establishment of optimal technology responsibilities and accountabilities, they must also evolve their own roles to deal with evolving obligations and opportunities.

Join this peer chat to explore:

• What business outcomes you’re trying to drive
• How you are strategically approaching those drivers
• Ways to elevate your role for influence across the C-suite and beyond

Recovering quickly from system disruptions is crucial for business resilience and the bottom line. Recent incidents have further highlighted the need for robust recovery strategies. CIOs can leverage best practices, advanced technologies and communication across the organization to maintain stability during crises. Join this session to discuss:

• Implementing capabilities for immediate situational awareness
• Building resilient IT infrastructure to withstand future challenges
• Safeguarding operations through application reliability and early issue detection

According to Gartner, by 2026, AI will augment 50% of office workers in global enterprises. When IT talent demand outweighs supply, CIOs must face skills gaps head on and create a future-proof talent strategy.

Join this session to discuss:

• Preparing your workforce for AI Implementation
• Identifying employee skills to build upon
• Prioritizing talent planning for long term success

Change is inevitable. The one constant in the midst of all the change, stress, and uncertainty we face at work and in life is us. Leaders with a strong sense of emotional intelligence (EQ), a willingness to be courageous and vulnerable, and the capacity to inspire others in a genuine way, have a distinct advantage in keeping their teams engaged and motivated in any circumstances.

In this keynote, author and thought leader Mike Robbins will share practical tips for:

• Learning to be transparent in a way that’s both liberating and inspiring
• Connecting at a deeper level with your teams and building real trust
• Dealing effectively with change and uncertainty — and thriving in the process

Governing Body members host this reception for executives to close out the event with an evening of peer networking, food and drinks.