June 2025 - Evening Meeting - ECPI University

Date: June 23, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: ECPI University, Suite 1050

Speaker 1: Kevin Johnson (Secure Ideas)

Presentation: No Admittance Except on Party Business

Speaker 2: Alex Ryals (MicroAge)

Presentation: Identity AI Threats in a New Era of Cybercrime

Agenda

• 6:00 pm - Check-in, Register, Networking
• 6:05 pm - Dinner
• 6:35 pm - Opening Announcements
• 6:50 pm - Speaker Presentation
• 7:40 pm - Break & Networking
• 8:00 pm - Speaker Presentation
• 8:50 pm - Wrap-up
• 9:00 pm - Goodnight / Post Meeting Networking

Dinner is provided and there is free parking on site. Refer to the map below.

We look forward to seeing you there for the informative and interesting presentations!

This meeting will count towards 3 CPE's!

Kevin Johnson (Secure Ideas)

Bio:

As a seasoned penetration tester, Kevin Johnson of Secure Ideas has cracked the code when it comes to assessing security controls—both in the real world and on the digital battlefield. With a dash of humor and a treasure trove of anecdotes, he'll paint a picture of the hair-raising interplay between physical security and network/application vulnerabilities. So, whether you're a tech enthusiast, a cybersecurity aficionado, or simply curious about the hidden perils of the digital era, don't miss this eye-opening presentation. Get ready to have your mind blown and your sides split with laughter as Kevin Johnson of Secure Ideas guides you through a captivating journey you won't soon forget!

Presentation: No Admittance Except on Party Business

Description:

In this presentation, Kevin Johnson of Secure Ideas explores the unexpected journey of security professionals through the lens of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved tale, "The Hobbit". Just as Bilbo Baggins was unexpectedly thrust into an adventure far beyond his comfortable Hobbit-hole, security practitioners often find themselves responsible for protecting vast digital landscapes they never anticipated traversing. This talk examines how security professionals, like reluctant heroes, can embrace their crucial role in the organization's quest for security.

Drawing parallels between the distractions and detours faced by Thorin's company and today's security teams, Kevin discusses how security efforts often lose sight of their primary objective, enabling the business while protecting it. From battling organizational trolls to navigating the political forests of enterprise priorities, security teams frequently become ensnared in tactical challenges that divert them from strategic purposes. Through practical examples and career lessons, this presentation offers a map for security professionals to better align with both business stakeholders and IT teams, transforming from perceived obstacles into valued companions on the shared journey toward secure, successful products.

By the end of this talk, attendees will gain actionable insights for crafting more effective security programs that enhance rather than hinder business goals—proving that even the smallest security measures can make the greatest difference when properly aligned with the company's ultimate treasure.

Alex Ryals (MicroAge)

Bio:

Alex Ryals serves as the Chief Information Security Officer and Cybersecurity Practice Leader at a US-based Reseller and Service Provider, MicroAge, where he leads a solution architect team that designs security-based solutions for clients to secure their data, infrastructure and networks. Previously, Alex was the Global VP of Channel Sales at Ping Identity where he focuses on designing and selling identity security solutions through partners around the world. Before Ping Identity, Alex held various Americas and Global VP roles over the Cybersecurity business at global IT distributors, TD SYNNEX, Tech Data and Avnet, where he was responsible for accelerating sales through a global partner ecosystem. Ryals has more than 20 years of experience in the technology sector with a deep background in delivery services, solution architecture, sales and leadership. He is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Computer Science.

Presentation: Identity AI Threats in a New Era of Cybercrime

Description:

AI is transforming the fraud space – both in how cybercriminals commit their crimes and how organizations arm themselves to fight back. In this presentation, we will focus on how AI enables new attack vectors such as video and voice cloning as well as how AI has enhanced traditional scams that we have known for years. Ultimately, we will identify several steps for how organizations can fight back against AI-based threats and hopefully prevent losing Millions to financial fraud.