The University of California’s annual Cybersecurity Summit returns on August 19–20, 2025, bringing together participants from the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges systems. Held virtually and free of charge, the event will take place from 9:00am to 12:00pm PT each day.
Note: There have been known issues related to Zoom’s calendar integrations that impact multi-day events. If Zoom adds this event to your calendar on only one day, please copy the event link and save for the second day. The meeting link will remain consistent across both days – August 19, 9am-12pm PT and August 20, 9am-12pm PT.
This year’s theme, “Building Resilient Communities,” sets the stage for two days of exploration into the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital ethics, and cyber risk—fostering collaboration and forward-thinking strategies across higher education and the public sector.
Breakout/Topic Rooms – August 19
Following the day’s keynote speaker and a CISO/CIO panel, from approximately 10:40am to 11:10am (PT) on August 19, the Summit will feature multiple breakout sessions by topic. Each breakout will offer a unique perspective on current cybersecurity topics — but you’ll need to choose one room to attend, as they will run concurrently.
We recommend reviewing the session descriptions in advance so you can make the most of this time and ensure you’re in the room that best aligns with your interests.
Below are the topic rooms you will be able to choose from:
Session #1
Life as a CISO – Ask Me Anything
Moderator: Allison Henry, UC Berkeley CISO
Are you interested in exploring the role of Chief Information Security Officer as part of your career journey? Or maybe you’re just curious about day to day life as a CISO? Come by and let’s chat – I’ll answer any questions about the role, and we can share ideas on how to build the competencies needed to be a successful CISO.
Session #2
Scaling Research Security Compliance: Navigating Complexities and Accelerating Adherence in Diverse UC Research Enterprises
Moderator: Jackson Muhirwe, USB CISO
Join UC Santa Barbara CISO Jackson Muhirwe for a discussion on the challenges and strategic opportunities in scaling research cybersecurity compliance across the UC system. Explore practical strategies for navigating evolving federal mandates (e.g., CMMC, NSPM-33), meeting funding agency requirements, and supporting diverse research disciplines—while accelerating security adherence, fostering a culture of compliance, and protecting sensitive data and IP.
Session #3
Protecting UC in the Midst of Geopolitical Turmoil
Moderator: Pat Phelan, UCSF CISO
We are living in tumultuous times marked by conflict in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. Domestically, federal policies are unpredictable. There are cyber implications to all this turbulence. As security professionals at UC, how should we respond to these global and domestic challenges?
Session #4
Third Party Security Risk in Higher Ed
Moderator: Damina Luna, UC Cyber Risk Assessment Unit Manager
Does it feel like you’re facing a greater number of requests to evaluate vendor risk, and being asked to do them faster? Let’s commiserate and share best practices in this 25-minute session.
Session #5
From Awareness to Risk: Modernizing UC’s Human-Centric Security Strategy
Moderator: Cecelia Finney, Program Director, Cybersecurity Awareness & Human Risk Management
As threats evolve, so must our approach to the human element of cybersecurity. In this session, we’ll look at how the UC is shifting its awareness program toward a human risk management model to move beyond training and campaigns to focus on behavioral risk, measurable outcomes, and alignment with broader security priorities. This shift reflects a growing industry trend: treating human risk as a critical component of the security stack, not a side initiative.
Session #6
Automating Forensics & Response: Accelerating Cyber Resilience for the UC System – sponsored by Fortinet
Moderator: Aamir Lakhani, Fortinet
This session delivers practical insights on how automation can empower UC campuses to rapidly investigate and respond to incidents—protecting sensitive student, research, and clinical data while maintaining continuity for academic and research excellence. Attendees will gain strategies to scale cyber response across the UC system, aligning security workflows with institutional goals—ensuring academic continuity, research integrity, and trusted access for the UC community. We’ll share actionable use cases and field-tested examples.
Session #7
Why Your Cyber Program May Feel Stuck—And What Leading Teams Are Doing Differently – sponsored by Trellix
Moderator: Eric Holst, Trellix
Even well-funded cyber programs can hit a wall—bogged down by alert fatigue, siloed systems, and reactive workflows. So how do some teams advance while others stall. This session shares insights from Trellix’s Mind of the CISO 2025 report, highlighting key gaps between perception and practice. Learn why 60% of organizations haven’t integrated threat intel, what modern teams are doing differently, and how to reframe success around readiness. practical strategies to align people, process, and platforms for what’s next.
Session #8
Overcoming Common Problems IN SOC Operations – sponsored by Palo Alto Networks
Moderator: Michael Gregg, Palo Alto Networks
Join Michael Gregg, Field CIO at Palo Alto Networks, for a practical session on navigating the challenges faced by both in-house and managed Security Operations Centers. Drawing on his extensive experience as a former CISO and Director of Cyber Security Operations for the State of North Dakota, Michael will share proven solutions to common SOC operational hurdles.
Register Now
2025 UC Cybersecurity Summit Zoom link
You have two options to register. 1. Sign in using a Zoom account which uses your work email. 2. Provide your work email and enter the OTP (one time password) that was sent to it.
Like we mentioned above, there have been known issues related to Zoom’s calendar integrations that impact multi-day events. If Zoom adds this event to your calendar on only one day, please copy the event link and save for the second day. The meeting link will remain consistent across both days – August 19, 9am-12pm PT and August 20, 9am-12pm PT.
Please note: This free event is open only to those at the University of California, California State University, California community colleges and invited guests. If you aren’t a part of this community, your registration will require an exception approval.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Let’s build a more resilient digital future—together.
For updates, please bookmark the security page and reach out to uccybersummit@ucop.edu with any questions.
Learn more about cybersecurity
- The Cyber-risk Coordination Center (C3) is now UC Digital Risk and Security. This change reflects the focus on providing valued digital risk services and expertise to UC Locations and managing digital risk across the UC system.
- The 2024 Cyber Risk Program Annual Report features stories highlighting the innovative approaches and improvements that have been implemented systemwide in 2024.
Contact
UC Cybersecurity Summit Planning Team
Uccybersummit@ucop.edu
