Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Welcome and Event Opening Ceremonies

Includes the National Anthem and the presentation of the colors by the Michigan State Police Color Guard.

Caleb Buhs, Chief Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget

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

What’s Next

Caleb Buhs, Chief Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Proceed to breakouts

Concurrent Sessions

Agentic AI Meets Cyber Defense: The Next Frontier in Security

Agentic AI—AI systems capable of autonomous decision-making—is redefining the cybersecurity landscape. This session explores how cutting-edge agentic AI is being used to detect, respond to, and even predict cyber threats in real time.

Attendees will gain insight into the opportunities and risks of integrating agentic AI into defense strategies, including threat hunting, adaptive response, and autonomous mitigation. Join us to discover how this transformative technology is shaping the future of cyber defense—and how to stay ahead of the curve.

Preparedness & Crisis Readiness in an AI-Driven Threat Landscape

As AI accelerates the speed and sophistication of cyber threats, traditional defense models are no longer enough. This session explores how organizations can build true crisis readiness—anticipating advanced perceived threats before they strike. Learn how to adapt your cybersecurity strategy for an AI-enabled world, enhance threat perception, and strengthen decision-making under pressure. Designed for leaders and defenders alike, this session will equip you to stay ahead of emerging risks and respond with confidence.

Cybersecurity Has an IT Problem

Strong cybersecurity begins with strong information technology. This session will explore the foundational relationship between cybersecurity and IT architecture, emphasizing that effective security cannot exist in isolation from well-managed, modern, and resilient IT systems. From asset inventory and network visibility to patch management and access controls, cybersecurity outcomes are only as strong as the IT environments in which they operate. Public sector organizations often struggle with legacy infrastructure, fragmented systems, and under-resourced IT teams—all of which create systemic vulnerabilities.

The People Problem + Social Engineering

Social engineering in 2025 is turbocharged by AI-powered deception techniques that exploit human psychology with unprecedented precision. This session uncovers how attackers use advanced AI tools to craft personalized, convincing attacks—and how understanding human behavior can turn the tide in your defense. Through real-world examples and innovative strategies, attendees will learn how to detect, disrupt, and defend against next-generation social engineering threat

Optimizing Cybersecurity Operations in Tight Budget Cycles

In a time of rising demands and fixed budgets, public sector leaders are being challenged to do more—with less. How can organizations prioritize cybersecurity effectively, drive efficiency, and still deliver meaningful results? This session explores how to identify and make the most of available resources by streamlining operations, optimizing existing tools, and fostering cross-functional collaboration and sharing services. Expect real-world insights around high-impact priorities and selecting the right people, tools, technologies, and services to move forward.

Transition to Lunch

Lunch Buffet

General Session

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Proceed to breakouts

Concurrent Sessions

AI vs. AI: Defending Against Malicious Autonomous Agents

As malicious autonomous AI agents emerge as new cyber threats, defending against AI-driven attacks requires advanced countermeasures powered by AI itself. This session examines the evolving battle between AI attackers and defenders, highlighting techniques for detecting, mitigating, and neutralizing hostile autonomous agents. Attendees will learn about cutting-edge AI defense strategies and the challenges of securing systems in an AI-versus-AI landscape.

Collaborative Cyber Crisis Management

When a cyber incident strikes, a fragmented response can cause delays and confusion. This session highlights the need for a unified crisis management strategy that brings together IT, security, legal, and communications teams. Through expert insights and real-world examples, attendees will learn how to break down silos, strengthen collaboration, and build a resilient response plan that ensures fast, coordinated action in any cyber crisis.

Skills for the World of AI Defense

As cyber threats evolve in complexity, so must the skill sets of IT and security professionals. This session explores the critical IT skills needed to build effective cybersecurity defenses in 2025—from cloud-native security and automation to threat hunting, AI-driven analysis, and secure DevOps practices. Attendees will gain insight into emerging roles, must-have competencies, and how to future-proof their teams in a rapidly shifting threat landscape.

Defending Critical Infrastructure: Best Practices for OT Security

This presentation will focus on the evolving cybersecurity threats targeting operational technology (OT) environments within critical infrastructure sectors. Drawing on real-world attack scenarios and lessons learned from high-profile incidents impacting energy, water, transportation, and other essential services, the session will highlight emerging adversary tactics and common vulnerabilities in OT systems. Attendees will gain actionable best practices to strengthen defenses, enhance visibility and monitoring, and build resilience against disruptive cyberattacks.

A People Problem: Internet and Mobile Safety

As organizations increasingly rely on mobile connectivity and online platforms, safeguarding digital interactions becomes more critical than ever. How can teams ensure secure browsing, data protection, and mobile device hygiene across their workforce? This session will unpack practical strategies for minimizing risks in internet and mobile usage, promoting security-first habits, and empowering employees with the awareness needed to protect sensitive information and uphold public trust.

Transition to Closing Session

Closing Session

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.