On October 9, 2024, on the UC Irvine campus, over 200 attendees gathered for the 15th Cyber Security Summit. This year’s event, true to its theme Protecting Today, Innovating Tomorrow, served as a platform for information security professionals from the University of California system, California State University, and California Community Colleges to engage, share insights, and build connections. The summit highlighted our collective commitment to advancing research, education, and public service in the field of cybersecurity.
A day of sharing knowledge
Summit attendees had the opportunity to connect with fellow thought leaders and dive into pressing cybersecurity topics, such as AI, resource constraints, machine learning, and the ever-evolving threat landscape. Participants reconnected with old peers, forged new relationships, and engaged in insightful conversations that illuminated the challenges and innovations shaping the cybersecurity realm today.
Expert presentations
This year’s summit featured a diverse lineup of expert speakers, including a senior practice manager at a global customer-facing service, a VP of a data breach resolution group, a systems engineering leader, and a Boardroom Certified Qualified Technology Expert/Adjunct Professor at a renowned university. They tackled a wide array of topics, such as:
- Securing the Present, Shaping the Future: A Decade of Cybersecurity Evolution and the Road Ahead – Tom Andriola, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Data (ODIT) and Chief Digital Officer, UC Irvine
- Education at the Crossroads…Responsible AI to the Rescue – Diya Wynn, Responsible AI Lead, AWS
- Overcoming Alert Overload/Fatigue and Resource Constraints – Gabe Perez, Systems Engineering Leader, Fortinet
- AI, ML, and LLMs Unleashed | The Next Wave of Surfing the Internet – Demetrios (Laz) Lazarikos; Career CISO, AI Researcher, Business Advisor
- Experian 2024 Data Breach Update – Michael Bruemmer, Vice President, Experian® Data Breach Resolution & Consumer Protection
Engaging with the community
Among those who participated, 50% were attending for the first time, while 15% were seasoned attendees with four or more summits under their belts.
Feedback from summit attendees was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the value of these gatherings. Here are some of the responses about the 2024 event:
“My favorite part of the Summit was networking with other UC employees with the common goal of increasing our knowledge and information on Cybersecurity that affects every single one of us.”
“This Cyber Security Summit was a valuable experience! The presentations were incredibly informative, offering clear explanations of the summit’s origins in coordinating breach responses, outlining current cyber security risks, and emphasizing the importance of preparedness. It’s a must-attend event for staying informed and building relationships in the industry.”
“This was a great event to meet not only other professionals from our UC campus, but also several professionals from the entire UC system statewide, and other partners as well.”
Looking ahead
The UC Cyber Security Summit continues to be a pivotal event for the community, driving collaboration and innovation in the face of emerging cyber threats. The insights shared and connections made at this year’s event will undoubtedly pave the way for future advancements in cybersecurity practices.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year for another enriching experience next year, where we can continue to learn, share, and grow together in this critical field. Be sure to mark your calendars for the next UC Cyber Security Summit being held in July, 2025.
Details will be available soon on our website: https://security.ucop.edu/get-involved/uc-cybersecurity-summit/
Contact
Manager
Cyber Risk Coordination Center
UC Office of the President
Digital Risk Communications and Events Manager
UC Office of the President