Breakout Sessions

Taking care of yourself and your team before, during, and after an incident. 

-What Happens in the Brain During an Incident
-Why Experienced Technologists Still Freeze
-Techniques That Actually Work in the Moment
-Post-Incident Recovery

Ready to stop running on empty? Come learn simple, science-backed self-care strategies you can implement mid-workday to protect your mental health, recharge your focus, and stay thriving.

Artificial intelligence isn't just changing the cybersecurity landscape, it's actively being used to build sophisticated deceptions, one brick at a time. 

In this session, attendees will get an inside look at how AI-powered deepfakes are created, from the foundational history of AI to the tools and techniques being used today. Through live demonstrations and real-world examples, this presentation pulls back the curtain on how threat actors are leveraging AI to craft convincing scams, manipulate identities, and erode trust in what we see and hear. 

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how these threats are constructed and what to look for before the damage is done. 

Learn how the Apprenticeships Reaching Careers Horizons (ARCH) Program is preparing the next generation of IT professionals through paid, hands-on work experience. This session will provide an overview of California’s first registered high school youth apprenticeship program and highlight how employers, school districts, and community colleges collaborate to create meaningful career pathways in information technology.

Current apprentices will share their experiences balancing work and education while developing technical and professional skills in the field. Students will discuss projects they have supported, lessons they have learned, and how apprenticeship has helped shape their career and educational goals.

Join us to hear directly from the future IT workforce and discover how apprenticeship can serve as an effective strategy for developing, engaging, and retaining technology talent.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the cyber threat landscape, empowering attackers with new tools and techniques that are faster, more convincing, and harder to detect. From Dark AI and AI-enhanced ransomware campaigns to sophisticated deepfake attacks and emerging AI-driven threats, organizations must prepare for risks that are no longer theoretical—they are evolving today.

This session explores how cybercriminals are leveraging AI to automate attacks, manipulate trust, and increase the scale and effectiveness of their operations. Attendees will gain insight into emerging threat trends, understand the potential business impacts, and learn practical strategies for strengthening security readiness, incident response, and organizational resilience. Join us to discover what’s on the horizon and how to prepare your organization for the next generation of AI-powered cyber threats.

The best LEGO creations aren't built from identical bricks, they're built from pieces with different shapes, sizes, and purposes working together toward a common goal. High-performing teams are no different, especially when they are technical teams. This session explores how diverse perspectives improve critical thinking, strengthen analytic tradecraft, foster innovation, and help teams avoid blind spots. Attendees will learn how psychological safety and making room for every voice can transform a collection of individuals into something far greater than the sum of its parts.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an opportunity, but too often, it becomes a routine exercise that fails to drive lasting change. What if you could reinvent it into something that truly influences behavior?

In this session, we’ll explore how to transform traditional awareness efforts into an engaging, high-impact program focused on building lasting security habits across your organization. Learn how to move beyond static training by incorporating interactive activities, themed campaigns, and gamified experiences that capture attention and encourage participation.

You’ll walk away with a flexible framework to design an awareness program that not only engages employees during the month, but builds behaviors that stick all year long.