2023 Texas Technology Summit Agenda

Brian leads the Professional Services Consulting Practice for Apollo where he guides CISO Advisory Team to provide services to the dynamic and diverse client base. Prior to joining Apollo (formerly CyberDefenses), Brian’s roles included the Executive Director of the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center (R-CISC), now the Retail and Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center (RH-ISAC), CISO and Cybersecurity Coordinator for the State of Texas, CISO for Texas Health and Human Services Commission, CISO for Temple-Inland, and various cybersecurity roles within the banking, manufacturing and high-tech industries. Brian has been a professional within Information Security and Information Technology for over 30 years and enjoys contributing as an expert consulting partner to provide solutions to complex problems.

Synopsis

Too often the security program is viewed as a set of technologies to thwart attackers, or unfortunately a set of roadblocks generating friction for the organization’s business efforts. In this keynote session we’ll talk about a strategic planning process for aligning and integrating the cybersecurity program within the overall organization’s goals while considering how to evolve capabilities and maturity to meet risk-oriented priorities. The planning process will help inform build versus buy decisions in the short term and long-range strategy while utilizing risk management techniques to support business decisions. We’ll preview how to leverage security frameworks for gap analysis and planning functions to project how to best use finite resources. Let’s get strategic and provide an edge by looking at the security program like a business operation to ensure that our resources are providing the utmost value and enabling our business to reach its goals.

Adam Marget serves as the Product Marketing Manager at Unitrends, a leader in data center backup and disaster recovery solutions. An experienced technical marketing professional, Adam has been a member of the Unitrends team since 2016, during which time he’s held several roles at the company. Driven by a love and curiosity for technology, he’s been delighted to have been afforded the opportunity help both end users and channel partners solve challenges around disaster recovery and business continuity. Prior to joining Unitrends, Adam worked with national IT solutions provider CDW where he leveraged a variety of partner solutions to help his customers achieve their goals across backup, networking, security, power & cooling, endpoint and data center technologies.

Synopsis

Ransomware attacks saw a steep increase in 2022, setting records for both the volume of attacks and the cost of damages. The emergence of Ransomware-as-a-Service and open-source tools has proliferated attacks; IDC reports one in three organizations globally fell victim in 2022. From stretched resources and budgets, to BYOD cultures and large groups of unsophisticated users, today’s hybrid workforce is an ideal target for phishing, malware and ransomware attacks.

Combating the threat of ransomware requires a multifaceted approach, with backup and disaster recovery serving as the last line of defense. In response to these rampant threats, Unitrends is more focused on securing your backup infrastructure and helping organizations recover than ever before. In this session, we will explore:
• Unitrends 5 Pillars of Ransomware Defense
• How cyber liability insurance plays a role, tips to ensure your claim is successful
• Real-world experiences in overcoming attacks

Known for his ability to communicate both technically and conceptually in an authoritative yet entertaining style, Dale “Dr. Z” Zabriskie has consulted with IT professionals across the globe, advising on implementing effective cyber security strategies. He is a CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) and certified in Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK). In his 20-year cybersecurity career, Dr. Z has advised major healthcare, public sector, finance, retail, entertainment, and manufacturing organizations in over fifty countries. He has also been a popular moderator and participant in numerous industry panels. His expertise is supported by career experience in information technology, regulatory compliance, research and development, marketing, and sales.

Synopsis

You’ve heard that “data is the new oil.” More accurately, “data is your currency.” It gives you the ability to conduct business. Mismanage it, and there can be serious consequences. Lose it, and you lose your business.

With your “bills” spread across your environment, managing and protecting the “money” can be a monumental task. $100s, $50s, $20s, $10s, $5s, and lots of $1s are strewn about. Knowing where your most valuable bills are is foundational to any data security process. This session will explore the key steps in identifying the most important data in your organization. Using real-world examples, we will examine the impact of placing appropriate controls to protect your most important business asset: your data.

Lindsay has served the Harris County Appraisal District for the past eleven and a half years. His resposibilities included Enterprise Information Services and Systems. In 2022 Lindsay completed the National Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO) program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lindsay also serves as a cybersecurity committee member for the Texas Association of Governmental Information Technology Managers.

Synopsis

This roundtable is for attendees for executives with VIP badges ONLY. This session is intended for audience participation so be ready to discuss, receive valuable information, and connect with others for further discussion.

Chad Maskill, Cyber Hero, has two decades of experience in consultation and client management. In his current role Chad reaches out to assist businesses in hardening their environment preventing ransomware and malicious attacks. Chad has devoted his career to implementing client driven solutions, working with everyone from Ford Motor Company, Tesla, Infinity Ward, as well as numerous municipalities throughout the US and countless SMB’s. Previously he has worked with local government in designing and sourcing emergency apparatus and can still parallel park a Ladder Truck.

Synopsis

The plethora of security vendors operating in today's marketplace can be overwhelming. With so many options, it's easy to be distracted with the latest, greatest, shiny tool. Join Chad Maskill for a deep dive into the purpose of cybersecurity and how you can use that to your operational advantage today.

Jim has been working in cybersecurity for over two decades. Beginning at Blue Coat as a support engineer, Jim began his career in support helping customers ensure their users were protected from malicious sites on the internet. He has worked at top cyber companies like F5 and Forescout. As a Director of pre-sales engineers at Arctic Wolf, Jim educates organizations on new approaches and techniques to mitigate cyber risk. He is passionate about transforming security departments into value centers for their organizations.

Synopsis

In this session, we’ll dive into a few recent breaches and how they happened. From this, we will see that tools alone are not the answer to mitigating cyber risk. In order to better combat bad actors, we need to look at how we operationalize cybersecurity. By looking at the struggles organizations have with their current approach, we can dissect how to remedy the struggles and formulate a plan to end cyber risk.

Since 1981 James Del Monte has been a leader in the Houston IT Employment space as an executive recruiter specializing in senior level positions and key technology areas like info/sec. Over his career as President of JDA Professional Services he has filled thousands of positions and helped countless professionals advance their careers. James has shared his views on the employment market, compensation trends and interviewing at several trade groups, conferences, publications and has been top rated for his speaking skills and humor.

Synopsis

As economic trends continue to impact the labor market, being ready to respond to these shifts is invaluable. Come and learn from industry veteran James Del Monte as he talks about current trends in the local Houston market and how you can navigate the current landscape to ensure that your career is progressing to achieve your goals.

Mark is an accomplished leader in software and SaaS product marketing, with a proven track record of driving revenue growth for various technology companies such as Trinet, Liongard, and ConnectWise. At CyberFOX, Mark brings his extensive experience to the table, with a focus on evangelizing, positioning, and creating awareness for the company.

Synopsis

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, protecting organizations from daily cyber threats is becoming increasingly difficult. According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report, over 90% of successful Windows breaches occur due to users having privileged access. To avoid being included in this year's report, it's important to take a major step in cybersecurity planning by removing local Admin rights from end-users. However, this can be challenging as it may result in end-users becoming frustrated when they need to request updates. CyberFOX Vice President, Mark Sokol, provides a solution called "The Best of Both Worlds", which aims to increase security while reducing end-user frustration. Learn more about this solution and how it can help you protect your organization from cyber threats.

In addition to being a Data Protection & Privacy Architech with Capgemini, Harvey is also the Director of ISACA Houston. He is very involved in the IS community in Houston and enjoys bringing people together to share knowledge and experience on a variety of topics relating to IT & IS.

David Sledge's Bio

David is an engaging information technology and cyber security leader with more than 15 years of leadership experience in the information technology field. He is enthusiastic about building diverse, collaborative teams while leading by example, genuinely understands the importance of inspiring change through influence, the propensity to connect with people and building relationships through learning from & listening to others. He is driven in the pursuit to growth professionally and personally while working to reach new people to expand the cyber security community.

Ricky Allen's Bio

Ricky is a IT professional with decades of experience building high performance teams to address information security and compliance requirements. Ricky has navigated enterprise organizations through compliance monitoring and security operations processes to adhere to industry standards. He is a regular presenter at information security conferences and associations and received his BBA in MIS from Texas A&M University.

Chris Nicolaou's Bio

Chris is a solutions-oriented technology leader with an entrepreneurial spirit. With 20+ years of experience in strategic roles, often at the intersection of IT and new business development, he has expertise in cybersecurity, enterprise architecture (cloud and on-premise), ITIL v3, Lean IT, and Agile as well as business modeling, risk assessment and client engagement. He is also passionate about team development.

Synopsis

This panel will discuss the current trends in Cybersecurity including Issues, Risks and Opportunities. Come and learn from the knowledge and combined experience of these speakers. The session will also include audiance Q&A to address the specific issues and insights you're looking for.

Connor Scheffler is a Cyber Security Specialist at Darktrace, a global leader in cyber security artificial intelligence that employs over 2,100 people around the world and protects over 7,700 organizations globally from advanced cyber threats using complete AI-powered solutions. Connor started with Darktrace in January 2022, winning Rookie of the Year within his first year. He studied at the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire.

Synopsis

In the face of skyrocketing cyber risk, detecting and responding to attacks is no longer enough. Organizations must take proactive steps to prevent threats before they happen, and to recover if compromised. In this session, Darktrace unveil an ambitious new approach to security, with core engines powering AI technologies to prevent, detect, respond, and ultimately heal from attacks. Together, these engines combine to strengthen organizations’ security posture in a virtuous AI feedback ‘loop,’ which provides powerful end-to-end, bespoke, and self-learning solutions unique to each organization.

Michael is a global industry leader and Senior IT & Security Executive with a successful record in developing and leading corporate technology and information security programs for global organizations. He is also an author whose latest book, GLOBAL CISO - Strategy, Tactics & Leadership, connects the dots about past data breaches and their misconceptions, provides an international perspective on privacy laws and gives battle-tested security advice for a progressing a security career. Michael has 25+ years full time global security leadership in eight different CSO/CISO roles and speaks at multiple conferences worldwide.

Synopsis

This roundtable is for attendees for executives with VIP badges ONLY. This session is intended for audience participation so be ready to discuss, receive valuable information, and connect with others for further discussion.

Steve joined Arcserve as a Solution Consultant in June of 2011. Prior to joining Arcserve, Steve spent five years working as an IT Manager for a Contract Manufacturer in the biotech industry (San Diego, CA) and before that spent seven years as a Sr. Systems Engineer between two local San Diego value-added resellers. His primary focus over the past decade has been educating and enabling customers and partners on the Arcserve portfolio of data protection solutions—including backup/disaster recovery, business continuity and high availability.

Synopsis

When it comes to cyberattacks, catastrophe is just around the corner, and even data security best practices may not be good enough for today’s onslaught of evolving threats. The only way to ensure IT systems and data are safe is to use a multi-layer solution that includes anti-ransomware and other threat prevention technologies and DR for protection against data loss.

Learn how you can prevent cyberattacks and immediately restore business-critical data – no ransom required.

Tonya Spell has over 20 years of experience as an account executive & technical recruiter and brought that knowledge to nonPareil to develop the outsourcing group. She graduated from Texas A&M University and is highly involved in volunteering around Houston. She is on the board of the Houston A&M Club, has served in leadership roles with the school PTA and has been a volunteer with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo for over 25 years. She is married with twin 15-year-old boys and a 13-year-old daughter. In fact, one of her twins is on the spectrum, fueling her passion for helping this underserved population. Tonya is an avid sports fan (especially college football and her beloved Houston Astros) and spends as much time on horseback as her schedule allows.

John's Bio

John Aboud is the CIO of nonpareil. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Psychology and has worked in the computer industry and healthcare IT industry for almost 30 years. For the past 5 years he owned his own IT Consulting business servicing clients across the U.S. He and his wife, Felice, have been married for 29 years and have 2 beautiful daughters.

Synopsis

One of the world’s greatest untapped technical resource is the potential that people on the autism spectrum have to offer. nonPareil is changing that through its’ PowerSourcing program, where we are “putting autism to work”! This session will focus on learning about autistic traits, how that assimilates in the workplace, the training nonPareil is doing and how they can partner with companies to help with various types of projects. If you are in a management/hiring role or personally know a young adult on the spectrum, this session is one you won’t want to miss.

In addition to being a Data Protection & Privacy Architech with Capgemini, Harvey is also the Director of ISACA Houston. He is very involved in the IS community in Houston and enjoys bringing people together to share knowledge and experience on a variety of topics relating to IT & IS.

Al Lindseth's Bio

Al is a highly effective and successful senior executive with 25 years in the energy industry. His experience and knowledge spans different markets, products, business models and disciplines. With a proven track record of driving resolution of the top challenges facing different groups companies & individuals, Al is a change agent to lead effect turnaround situations and solve critical problems.

Clif Triplett's Bio

Clif is a senior executive with broad and in-depth experience and knowledge of nearly all facets of information technology on a global basis. He has significant experience with Fortune 200 companies and industry leaders in the oilfield services, tractor, automotive, aerospace, defense and telecommunication industries. Respected leader, innovator, and change agent with keen ability to quickly assess a situation and create a strategy and architecture that best serves the need of the particular company. Has developed and driven market and internal strategic initiatives for major enterprises, start-ups, turnarounds, divestitures, mergers and acquisitions. Leader acknowledged for integrity, strategic thinking, architectural strength, operational excellence, manufacturing expertise, information security and global business acumen.

Brian Engle's Bio

Brian leads the Professional Services Consulting Practice for Apollo where he guides CISO Advisory Team to provide services to the dynamic and diverse client base. Prior to joining Apollo (formerly CyberDefenses), Brian’s roles included the Executive Director of the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center (R-CISC), now the Retail and Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center (RH-ISAC), CISO and Cybersecurity Coordinator for the State of Texas, CISO for Texas Health and Human Services Commission, CISO for Temple-Inland, and various cybersecurity roles within the banking, manufacturing and high-tech industries. Brian has been a professional within Information Security and Information Technology for over 30 years and enjoys contributing as an expert consulting partner to provide solutions to complex problems.

Synopsis

This panel will discuss the key trends in Data Strategy & Data Privacy by addressing topics including:

- What are the Data Privacy laws coming soon?
- What is Privacy by Design and can it be implemented by DevOps?
- What is new in Data Analytics with AI and Machine Learning

Join our speakers to hear about these new requirements and strategies to manage your data. This session will include audiance Q&A.