Washington, DC CIO Executive Summit

Delivering business critical applications safely is a delicate balancing act. The user experience is frequently compromised as application, infrastructure, and security teams negotiate the adoption of new services. Unfortunate trade-offs are sometimes necessary to address operational needs for the sake of maintaining security, but these trade-offs can make certain use cases unfeasible or diminish their value to the organization.

In this session, we will discuss:

• Revolutionizing workspaces by balancing productivity, security, availability, and user experience.
• How quickly new technologies like the enterprise browser can be adopted to provide a competitive advantage
• Strategies for reducing the effort required to deliver applications and enhance organizational operations

As AI capabilities expand, businesses will be driving to introduce capabilities to gain efficiency and stay competitive in the market. GenAI techs are mature and cost effective and the original use cases are proving to be a value add. Standing on the sidelines and not taking advantage of the efficiencies are no longer a choice. Organizations must roadmap their journey, plan their execution and avoid unplanned reflex reactions in deploying LLM solutions.

Join this interactive session to hear about:

• Four sequential steps needed for your LLM journey
• Being an equal partner to other parts of the business in executing an AI journey
• Setting up clear guardrails, faster user acceptance and sustainable risk mitigation

The rise of unmanaged devices, dispersed teams, and sophisticated AI-powered attacks demands a comprehensive rethinking of security architectures. Organizations must examine the critical challenges facing the modern workplace and explore emerging strategies to future-proof security. Join this keynote discussion to learn:

• How organizations can maintain control and visibility in a BYOD and contractor-driven environment
• How AI and LLMs are reshaping data protection and proactively identifying risks as well as how to safely enable GenAI in your organization
• Today’s emerging technologies that can deliver seamless application experiences, even across distributed workforces

Gartner research shows a near split of CIOs opting to build an application in-house versus buying or partnering with a third-party. Regardless of the choice, IT executives must deliver programs that are relevant and both cost and time effective to manage.

In this boardroom, you will discuss:

• Customizing build or buy strategies that evolve with business needs
• Maximizing the value of applications while remaining agile
• Incorporating effective contract management to avoid vendor lock-in

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.

Truly exceptional leaders create a culture of trust and respect, inspire innovation, and drive high performance. They lead by example and encourage collaboration. This session will explore stories of leadership and strategies on how to have a lasting impact on not just an organization, but on people.

Join this interactive session to discuss:

• Building High-Performing Teams: Attracting and retaining quality talent in growth-focused environments
• Influencing Across the Organization: Strategically engaging stakeholders through strong communication
• Navigating Evolving Responsibilities: Embracing accountability with authenticity and resiliency

IT and security leaders are under immense pressure to protect the enterprise from increasingly sophisticated threats. The stakes are high, and the challenges are numerous. With new laws and regulations exposing leaders to personal liability more than ever before, how can executives be proactive in protecting themselves?

Gather with your peers to discuss:

• How you're approaching protecting yourself in this state of heightened liability
• How the increasing personal risk for security leaders is affecting the industry
• Which cases in the news are of importance and why

The recent incidents highlight the critical importance of managing third (or even fourth)-party risk in today's interconnected business ecosystem. As CIOs and CISOs, it is crucial to understand the potential vulnerabilities that arise from third-party relationships, develop effective strategies to mitigate these risks and communicate those risks to the business.

In this session you will discuss:

• Enhancing vendor selection criteria to prioritize security and risk management capabilities
• Developing robust incident response plans specifically tailored to third-party incidents
• Implementing practical strategies to enhance your organization's approach to third parties

As the scope, scale and price of GenAI initiatives grow, aligning the economics (cost, risk and value) is a top priority to make sure innovative ideas lead to business value. But while calculating what financial gains will come from GenAI implementation, there’s one factor that plays into ROI that might not be top of mind – trust. Engendering trust is a critical differentiator for maximizing AI success. Yet, trust can be elusive, subjective and difficult to measure.

Join Frances Karamouzis, a Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner who has appeared and/or contributed to reports showcased on 60 Minutes, CNN, CNBC, PBS, Business Week, Forbes and the Council for Foreign Relations as she explores:

• Keys to improving digital adoption and increasing ROI
• Determining the framework for identifying, vetting and funding AI and GenAI initiatives
• Why trust is one of the biggest differentiators in the AI and GenAI landscape, plus how to measure it

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