Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Opening Remarks

Jason Snyder, Secretary of Technology, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Cybersecurity State of the State

This session will provide an in-depth look at Massachusetts’ cybersecurity landscape, key threats, and ongoing initiatives to strengthen cyber resilience. Learn about the recent advancements in security frameworks, interagency collaboration, incident response, and vulnerability management. In addition to hearing about the current landscape, you’ll have an opportunity to learn what the Commonwealth has accomplished to date and the priorities ahead to safeguard Massachusetts’ digital infrastructure and assets.

Don Chamberlain, Chief Operating Officer & Assistant Secretary for Security and Operations, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Keynote – Keep Your Head Out of the Cyber Sand: Using Superior Communications to Get the Job Done!

Risk can take on many forms and governments must understand how to accept it, mitigate it, or insure against it while not sticking their head in the sand to ignore it. How will you assess your cyber risks and balance them against your needs? How will you make the rational decisions needed to be successful? How will you navigate the road to recovery? This session will answer these questions with a focus on ideas that will help you engage your leaders with real-world examples.

Bryce Austin, CEO, TCE Strategy

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Concurrent Sessions

Cyber Smarts Part I: Understanding Your Adversary – The Psychology Behind Cyber Threats

Conventional checklist-style security training no longer keeps pace with the sophistication of today’s cyber threats. This session uncovers how attackers leverage human psychology—trust, urgency, authority, curiosity, and fear—to bypass even the strongest technical defenses. Attendees will learn to recognize the cognitive biases and manipulation tactics behind phishing, spoofing, and deepfake scams, building the insight needed to design more resilient and adaptive security training. Attendees are encouraged to attend Cyber Lab Part II: From Awareness to Action – Building a Human-Centered Cyber Defense, in the afternoon.

Incident Response Planning – Ready, Set, Respond!

Is your organization truly ready to respond to a cyber incident? This session offers practical guidance on building and testing the core steps of incident response plans – preparation, identification, containment, and eradication – ensuring every stakeholder clearly understands their role and communication flow. Learn from past incidents, discover simple steps to strengthen preparedness, and gain actionable strategies to make your response plans effective and successful.

Ignite Your Cyber Workforce: Training, Resources, and Engagement

Prepare your IT team to tackle today’s cyber challenges! This session shows how to identify skill gaps, unlock resources, and leverage scholarships and programs to build strong SOC capabilities. Explore creative approaches to engage and train staff, transforming your workforce into a motivated, cyber-ready force.

Lunch

Cyber Resources Unlocked: Tools, Funding, and Strategies for Success

Fortify your organization’s cybersecurity posture in this dynamic, information-packed session! Whether you’re a municipality or state agency, discover how to access and leverage freely available resources and grant funding for programs, training, and risk assessments. Gain practical strategies to strengthen cyber maturity, foster collaboration, and stay ahead of evolving threats with actionable insights your team can implement right away.

Short Break

Concurrent Sessions

Cyber Smarts Part II: From Awareness to Action – Building a Human-Centered Cyber Defense

Ready to build on what you learned this morning? This session dives into real-world examples of modern cyberattacks, examining the tactics behind advanced phishing campaigns, AI-generated deepfakes, and multi-channel social engineering schemes. Participants will learn how to recognize subtle warning signs of emerging threats and gain practical skills to detect and thwart sophisticated attacks before they impact the organization. For maximum benefit, attendance in Cyber Smarts Part I: Understanding Your Adversary – The Psychology Behind Cyber Threats is highly recommended.

Managing Vulnerabilities and Emerging Tech Risks

Discover how to identify and mitigate organizational vulnerabilities across human behavior, technical controls, and emerging threats through risk-based assessments. Learn practical strategies for safely integrating AI and emerging technologies, addressing advancing threats such as AI-enhanced attacks and deepfakes, and strengthening identity and access management. This session combines security, compliance, and strategic insights to navigate today’s evolving threat landscape.

Continuity in Action: Strengthening Government IT Resiliency

In today’s unpredictable world the continued operation of government services in a disaster is paramount and safeguarding critical digital infrastructure and data has never been more important. This session explores business continuity and IT recovery best practices for state and local governments. Learn practical strategies to isolate affected systems, maintain essential services, and implement plans that keep your agency mission ready.

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Cyber Showdown: Test Your Defenses Before They Test You

What would you do? Don't wait until the cyber criminals find you to test your cyber readiness. Join us for an interactive session where you will get to test your cyber defenses against the latest public sector threats. Don't miss out on the opportunity to celebrate your strengths and identify opportunities to guide your cyber resiliency road map.

Meghan Martinez, Director, Cyber Range Programs, CyberTrust Massachusetts

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.