Information Security Forum

The Chicago Forum is designed for information security practitioners across all industries to dive deep on specific topics, share insights, and network with peers. This one-day event incorporates breakouts with IANS Faculty, spotlight sessions on emerging technologies, and opportunities to network with your peers. Topics fall into five tracks:

• Security Operations
• Security Architecture
• Threats and Vulnerabilities
• Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance
• Leadership and Career Development

IANS Forum content is geared toward the entire security function. Attendees include but are not limited to CISOs, VPs and Managing Directors of Information Security, Information Security Architects, and Information Security Engineers.

Speakers Jessica Hebenstreit IANS Faculty

Jessica is the Director of Security Operations & Infrastructure at Eptura. Previously, Jessica served as a Sr Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, consulting on Cyber Fusion Centers, Attack Surface Management, other cyber defense capabilities, and cyber program development and leadership.  Jessica has consulted with many of the largest companies in the world including many Fortune 100.

Presentations:

• Get Hiring Right to Boost Retention and Strengthen Culture: 1:05 PM - 1:45 PM
• Prepare Incident Response Plans to Comply with the SEC: 3:10 PM - 3:50 PM
• Attack Surface Management + Posture Management = How to Get Enterprise Visibility at Scale: 3:55 PM - 4:35 PM

AJ King IANS Faculty

AJ is the CISO for Hunter Strategy where he leads their Cyber Security consulting practice advising clients in public, private, and government spaces. His core skills include cyber security leadership, security architecture, third-party vendor risk management, program management, and general governance practices.

Prior to his current role, AJ has developed information security programs from the ground up leading extensive cybersecurity teams in support of globally distributed companies. AJ actively seeks opportunities to add value to organizations and measurably increase their overall security posture. As an active member in the information security community AJ is a member of ISSA, Infragard, and a regular at local events such as SecDSM and SecKC.

Presentations:

• Ransomware Recovery Informed by Recent Attacks: 10:40 AM - 11:20 AM
• Get the IAM Fundamentals Right: Structuring for Success: 1:05 PM - 1:45 PM
• Secure Collaboration in the Microsoft Environment: 3:10 PM - 3:50 PM

Olivia Rose IANS Faculty

Olivia is an industry veteran and proven executive leader with over 21 years experience building, transforming, and delivering successful IT and cybersecurity programs. Olivia possesses a rare blend of technical, governance, and business acumen to easily articulate cybersecurity strategy and initiatives to both C-Suite/Board of Directors and technical audiences. Olivia is presently the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and VP of IT & Security at a fast-growing SaaS company, and a frequently requested speaker on cybersecurity at events and on podcasts. Olivia is also widely regarded as a mentor and thought leader in the industry and as champion for diversity and equality.

Presentations:

• Regulatory and Governance Models: Align Your Efforts: 10:40 AM - 11:20 AM
• From Practitioner to Manager: Developing the Right Skills to Lead: 3:55 PM - 4:35 PM

Bryson Bort IANS Faculty

Bryson is the Founder of SCYTHE, a start-up building a next generation attack emulation platform, and GRIMM, a cybersecurity consultancy, and Co-Founder of the ICS Village, a non-profit advancing awareness of industrial control system security. He is a Senior Fellow at the National Security Institute. As a U.S. Army Officer, he served as a Battle Captain and Brigade Engineering Officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom before leaving the Army as a Captain. In 2023, Bryson earned Innovator of the Year at the SANS Difference Makers Awards. He has also been recognized as one of the Top 50 in Cyber by Business Insider, Security Executive Finalist of the Year by SC Media, and a Tech Titan in Washington DC.

Presentations:

• Leverage AI in the SOC: 10:40 AM - 11:20 AM
• Hot Topic Session: 1:05 PM - 1:45 PM
• Understand the Implications of NYDFS: 3:10 PM - 3:50 PM
• Take a Tools-Based Approach to Securing Your Software Supply Chain: 3:55 PM - 4:35 PM

Mike Rothman IANS Faculty

Mike is the Chief Strategy Officer and GM of Techstrong. Formerly Mike served as President of Securosis, an information security research and advisory firm, as well as Co-Founder and President of DisruptOps, a cloud detection and response company. His breadth of experience in the information security space and bold perspectives are invaluable as companies determine effective strategies to grapple with the dynamic security threatscape. Mike started practicing and advising on security topics over 25 years ago, and he’s been trying to get out of the business ever since…to no avail.

Presentations:

• Multi-Cloud Maturity and the Third-Child Syndrome: 10:40 AM - 11:20 AM
• Get Started With In-House Generative AI: 1:05 PM - 1:45 PM
• Workshop: Build a Process to Automate Anything: 3:10 PM - 4:35 PM

George Gerchow IANS Faculty

As Sumo Logic's CSO and SVP of IT, George Gerchow brings over 20 years of information technology and systems management expertise to the application of IT processes and disciplines. His background includes the security, compliance, and cloud computing disciplines. Mr. Gerchow has years of practical experience in building agile security, compliance and, IT teams in rapid development organizations. These insights make him a highly regarded speaker, and invited panelist on topics including, cloud secure architecture design, compliance and operational security. George has been on the bleeding edge of public cloud security, privacy and modernizing IT systems since being a co-founder of the VMware Center for Policy & Compliance. He is a Faculty Member for IANS  - Institute of Applied Network Security  and sits on several industry advisory boards. Mr. Gerchow is also a known philanthropist and CEO of a nonprofit corporation, XFoundation.