The Public Sector Show by TechTables

#197: LSU's $7.5M Student-Powered SOC + NJIT's Life-Saving Analytics + Illinois' Creative Data Applications Powered by Splunk [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Craig Woolley, Chief Information Officer at Louisiana State University (LSU)Kim Milford, Chief Information Security Officer at University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignEd Wozencroft, VP for Digital Strategy and CIO at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)Mary Lou Prevost, Group Vice President | US | State, Local Government and Education at SplunkWhat You’ll Learn:Student-Powered SOC: A Revolutionary Education & Security ModelHow LSU created a scalable "student-powered" SOC model that provides real-world cybersecurity experience while enhancing institutional protectionThe unique public-private partnership with Techstream that enables 24/7 security operations while students work regular business hoursState-level buy-in with $7.5 million in recurring funding that has expanded the model to over 20 institutions across LouisianaDeveloping the Next Generation of Cybersecurity ProfessionalsHow the model creates a direct pipeline to industry with the first cohort of students all receiving job offers before graduationThe critical "six-week" timeline from student hiring to SOC frontline deployment, meeting the urgent need for cyber talentWhy both LSU and NJIT open their programs to students of all backgrounds, not just IT or cybersecurity majorsExpanding Data Analytics Beyond SecurityUniversity of Illinois' creative applications of Splunk beyond security - from analyzing email marketing performance to library resource utilizationHow IT data helped locate a student in crisis at NJIT, demonstrating the life-saving potential of security analytics platformsThe power of data visualization in communicating cybersecurity threats to government officials and securing institutional buy-inBuilding Consensus in Decentralized UniversitiesThe patient, collaborative approach to cybersecurity policy development with faculty at LSU through regular committee meetingsUniversity of Illinois' strategy of absorbing security costs centrally rather than charging departments to ensure wider adoptionHow cross-institutional partnerships amplify security capabilities through shared threat intelligenceTimestamps(00:00:00) Intro(00:00:58) Meet the innovators: HigherEd leaders transforming cybersecurity(00:02:00) LSU's game-changing SOC model: Where university security meets workforce development(00:05:40) Addressing the 2.3 million cyber job gap: "We have to solve this talent challenge"(00:07:40) NJIT's bold vision: Expanding the student SOC model across New Jersey's institutions(00:11:00) Beyond security: University of Illinois transforms email analytics and library services(00:16:15) Data saves lives: How network analytics prevented a campus tragedy at 2AM(00:22:50) "All three have job offers already": The remarkable ROI of student-powered securityConnect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe

#196: Building Cyber Warriors: UTSA's SOC & Elastic's AI Secret Sauce [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Kendra Ketchum, Vice President for Information Management and Technology and CIO at the University of Texas, San AntonioJared Pane, Director of Solutions Architecture at ElasticWhat You’ll Learn:Leadership Philosophy & Team BuildingDiscover Kendra's transformative "humble, hungry, and kind" leadership philosophy that's reshaping technical teams at UTSAWhy Kendra actively avoids hiring "brilliant jerks" who might be technically strong but ultimately damage team culture and prevent successHow embracing failure as a pathway to growth creates resilient, innovative teams: "Fail fast, pivot faster"UTSA's Student-Empowered Security Operations CenterThe remarkable journey from concept to impact: How UTSA's SOC has placed 179 students directly into tech roles, creating vital "connective tissue" for San Antonio's tech economyInside the innovative "glass screen" SOC design that transforms cybersecurity education into an immersive experience where students feel "part of something big"Why Kendra challenges higher education's fundamental approach: "If you're not consuming the knowledge you're creating in these students, what are you doing?"Elastic's AI-Powered Cybersecurity RevolutionThe "secret sauce" behind Elastic's vector database and AI search capabilities that detect vulnerabilities competitors miss entirelyHow Elastic's attack discovery transforms SOC operations by using AI to analyze thousands of alerts in minutes, not daysTexas A&M's rapid response to a devastating 2019 ransomware attack and why they made Elastic Agent mandatory across their technology infrastructureBreaking the Status QuoStrategies for challenging the dangerous "that's how we've always done it" mentality in higher educationHow cross-sector collaboration between universities, government agencies, and industry partners is solving complex cybersecurity challengesThe power of staying curious: "When you nurture and grow people, I am just as feisty and fiery in protecting them too"Timestamps(02:53) "Humble, hungry, and kind": Building teams that drive results through trust(07:55) Elastic's AI-powered search: The difference between "being on the news" and staying secure(13:42) UTSA's SOC origin story: Creating career pathways and economic impact(21:45) Higher ed's responsibility to "consume its own product" by hiring graduates(26:45) Inside Texas A&M's ransomware response and security transformation(31:30) Change leadership: Challenging the status quo and finding paths to "yes"(36:18) Innovation through experimentation: "Let's try it and see if it works"(39:43) Final advice for rising technology leaders: "Stay curious" and "be authentically yourself"Connect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates. Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe

#195: Purdue's Enterprise AI Challenge + Montana's State-Wide Cyber Hub [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Timothy Winders, AVP and Deputy CIO at Purdue UniversityZach Rossmiller, CIO, University of MontanaMani Nagothu, Americas Field CISO & Associate Director at SentinelOneWhat You’ll Learn:How Purdue navigates the unprecedented challenge of scaling AI access across their university system - balancing million-dollar licensing costs against student equityInside the University of Montana's innovative state-wide cybersecurity hub that transforms students into SOC analysts through real-world experienceHow AI is reshaping both sides of cybersecurity - from sophisticated threat actors leveraging LLMs to defenders using AI-powered SOC automationPractical strategies for integrating AI into higher education operations, from custom GPTs for student government to AI-enhanced writing supportWhy getting diverse student perspectives on AI tools is crucial for successful implementation in higher educationTimestamps(00:00) Intro(03:00) Purdue's Enterprise AI Access Challenges(09:00) Montana's Cyber Montana Initiative & SOC Training(15:00) AI in Modern Cybersecurity Operations(20:00) Practical AI Implementation Stories(25:00) Student Perspectives & Future Outlook(31:00) Looking Ahead: Guest RecommendationsConnect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe

#194: How Clackamas CC Protected 10,000 Students + [Case Study] Texas A&M's Digital Transformation with Omnissa [EDUCAUSE 2024]Brought to you by:SentinelOne—Learn how SentinelOne empowers this state to stay secure.Verizon Frontline—The advanced network that keeps first responders connected when it matters most.Carahsoft—The Trusted Public Sector IT Solutions Provider™, supports government agencies and education/healthcare markets. Contact your Carahsoft rep today to access special discount pricing exclusively through the TechTables + Carahsoft partnership!Featuring:Saby Waraich, CIO/CISO, Clackamas Community CollegeWayne Bridges, Senior Solutions Engineer, OmnissaWhat You'll Learn:How Clackamas CC executed a 72-hour ransomware response protecting 10,000 students using out-of-band communication and multi-agency coordinationHow Texas A&M transformed their digital experience from 15+ logins to a unified portal while preserving school-specific brandingThe CARES framework (Communication, Adapt, Relationships, Empowerment, Stay Calm) for leading through complex transformations and crisesStrategies for using AI to enhance IT support through automated ticket analysis and phishing detectionThe Purple Cow leadership approach for building positive team culture in higher education ITTimestamps(01:00) Guest Introductions: Saby Waraich & Wayne Bridges(03:00) The CARES Framework Origins(05:00) Ransomware Response at Clackamas CC(08:00) Texas A&M's Digital Experience Transformation(12:00) Purple Cow Leadership Framework(16:00) Digital Branding in Higher Education(21:00) AI Initiatives in Higher Ed IT(26:32) "Big Fan of Andrea Bollinger, Vice Provost and CIO, Oregon State University"Connect🤝 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/🐦 Connect on Twitter: https://x.com/thejoetoste🏛️ Follow on LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/📽️ Subscribe here: ‪ https://www.youtube.com/@techtablesWhenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter: Join our thriving community of senior technology leaders by subscribing to the TechTables Newsletter. Gain early access to the latest episodes, industry insights, and exclusive event updates.Join now: https://www.techtables.com/2. 🤝 The Collaboratory: The Exclusive Peer Network for Senior Technology Leaders in Public Sector, nationwide. The Collaboratory is a 100% Public Sector, Vendor-Free Private Community where you can connect, share strategies, and drive innovation alongside peers through monthly virtual meetings and our annual national event.CXOs Only Join Now: The Collaboratory: https://www.techtables.com/collaboratory3. 🤝 The Better Together Series: a virtual podcast series where TechTables partners with leading CXOs and vendor partners for candid conversations that showcase real-world solutions, spark innovation, and drive industry action. Email me at joe@techtables.com Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe

#193: Strategic HR Evolution: Building Culture-Driven IT OrganizationsFeaturing:Will Smith, Chief of Staff at City of Seattle ITIn this episode, you’ll learn:How Seattle IT revolutionized HR by embedding dedicated business partners within each department, transforming traditional personnel management into strategic partnerships that understand both technical operations and business goalsThe critical intersection of organizational psychology and tech leadership, through Smith's doctoral research on how growth mindset principles drive successful cultural transformation in IT organizationsSeattle IT's innovative "from-to state" framework for cultural change, creating systematic pathways from fixed to growth mindset and empowering teams with clear decision-making abilitiesThe power of intentional culture-building in IT organizations, demonstrated through Seattle IT's focus on psychological safety and creating spaces where all perspectives are valuedHow modern HR leadership drives organizational success by understanding both human capital and technical operations, illustrated through Seattle IT's transformation from a traditional personnel office to a strategic business partnerTimestamps(00:00) Introduction and Welcome (01:00) Will Smith: From HR Expert to Chief of Staff at Seattle IT (03:00) Personal Background and Family Values (04:00) Educational Journey: Bridging IT, Law, and Organizational Psychology (07:00) Understanding the 'Why' in Organizations (09:00) Growth Mindset: Foundation for Organizational Change (11:00) Revolutionizing HR: The Business Partner Model (14:00) Creating Intentional Culture and Psychological Safety (17:00) Managing Conflict Through Relationship Building (19:00) Leading Change: Hybrid Work Transformation (21:00) Seattle IT Learning Conference: Culture in Action (23:00) Closing Thoughts and Show InformationLinks Mentioned:2024 Seattle Learning Conference PlaylistMindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, Stanford University Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe

#192: From Forms to Freedom: Building Digital Services That Citizens Actually WantFeaturing:- Soumam Debgupta, CTO, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services- Rob Lloyd, CTO, City of Seattle- Chris Chirgwin, CIO, County of Santa BarbaraIn this episode, you’ll learn:How Washington State DSHS reduced benefit application times from 50 minutes to 25 minutes by reimagining service delivery through a customer-first lensWhy setting an ambitious 85% customer satisfaction goal is driving cultural transformation and transparency in government servicesThe impact of challenge-based procurement in Seattle, where defining problems instead of solutions is attracting innovative technology partnershipsHow Santa Barbara County achieved over 400 strategic goals in one year by implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)Why tracking metrics like cost-to-serve and benefit penetration rates helps Washington State DSHS maximize the reach and efficiency of social servicesLinks Mentioned:Traction by Gino WickmanCustomer First Thinking Newsletter by Soumam DebguptaOne Seattle Plan Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe

#191: Securing the Public Cloud: How Seattle & LA County DCFS Are Transforming CybersecurityFrom Asset Management to AI: Building Modern Security for Vulnerable CommunitiesFeaturing:Greg Smith, Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Security & Infrastructure, City of Seattle ITAllen Ohanian, Chief Information Security Officer, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family ServicesBrent Byrnes, Account Executive SLED, WizIn this episode, you’ll learn:How Seattle's risk-based approach is transforming traditional government cybersecurityLA County DCFS's strategy for securing the nation's largest welfare agency's sensitive data in the cloudWhy emerging IoT devices and cloud assets are creating new visibility challenges for government infrastructureThe role of cloud visibility and democratized security in modern government environmentsReal-world lessons from Seattle's cross-agency incident response and recovery strategiesTimestamps(00:00) Introduction and Guest Backgrounds (03:14) Seattle's Evolution to Risk-Based Security (04:52) Securing LA County DCFS's Cloud Environment (07:38) Cloud Visibility in Government (09:22) Asset Management Challenges in Modern Infrastructure (12:45) Cross-Agency Incident Response: Seattle Library Case Study (16:33) Crisis Communication Strategies (22:18) AI Implementation and Security Threats (27:42) Managing Modern Security Vendors (31:15) Future of Government Cloud Security Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe

🔗 Connect with Melanie & Laura:* Melanie Griffin - ⁠https://twitter.com/melaniesgriffin⁠ & ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-s-griffin-esq-93393044/⁠* Laura DiBella - ⁠https://twitter.com/FollowMeToFL⁠ & ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauradibella/⁠🎙 About The Episode* The Power of Prioritizing Employee Morale* How to Understand the Needs of the Business* The Pros and Cons of AI in the Workplace* Revolutionizing Real Estate AI: Trimming Down Processing Time on 175,000+ Applications* Economic Growth: Striking a balance between business friendliness and effective leadership* Promoting Economic Growth with the 3Ps💎 Diamond Sponsor: SentinelOneSentinelOne redefines cybersecurity by pushing the boundaries of autonomous technology —with its singularity XDR platform— SentinelOne is the leader in endpoint protection and beyond. Simply put, they stop the bad guys.To learn more about SentinelOne, check out ⁠⁠https://www.sentinelone.com/⁠⁠🤝 And a big thank you to our brand partners who keep this podcast free to the listener:⁠Nagarro⁠ is a leading provider of digital government services, partnering with state, local, and federal clients on their most strategic technology projects across Digital Services, Legacy Modernization, Case Management, Data & AI, Service Desk, Cyber Security, and more.If you would like to take a meeting with Nagarro, one of our preferred, trusted brand partners, email me at ⁠joe@techtables.com⁠.⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please do leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know in your review who you want to see next on the podcast. Thanks!🔗 Connect with TechTablesYou can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏LinkedIn TechTables ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/⁠⁠⁠Twitter ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thejoetoste Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe

FEATURING:- Ralph Johnson, CISO, State of Washington- Mary Craig, CIO, Washington State Department of Services for the Blind- Erik Sandie, Strategic Account Manager, IslandIN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:How DSB's Orientation and Training Center helps individuals who lose vision learn essential skills - from computer literacy to independent living and employment skillsThe impact of Title II ADA changes on state and local government websites and mobile appsHow enterprise browsers are evolving, with Gartner predicting universal adoption by 2032Why human-centered design is crucial for accessibility and the importance of proper website assessments over overlay solutionsReal-world demonstrations of assistive technologies like Seeing AI and the transformative potential of services like AiraWhy accessibility should be built into initial design and why it's often less expensive than organizations assumeWashington State CISO & DSB CIO showcase digital accessibility tech and share guidance on ADA Title II compliance for state government websites.The TechTables Newsletter is proudly brought to you by our national partner, SentinelOneWant to see AI-powered security in action? Check out how the State of Montana revolutionized their cybersecurity using SentinelOne - they're now protecting over 15,000 endpoints across 25 state agencies. Click here to see their success story. Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe

#190: Content-Defined Zero Trust: Securing Public Sector DataState, County & K-12 Leaders on Building Modern Data Protection FrameworksFEATURING:Ralph Johnson, CISO, State of WashingtonDoug Cavit, CISO, Snohomish CountyNikhil Gautam, Director, Technology Services, Bremerton School DistrictTim Freestone, CMO, KiteworksIN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:Washington State's strategic approach to zero trust implementation across decentralized agencies and vendor managementHow Bremerton School District revolutionized their security architecture to protect sensitive student data across 72 network segmentsSnohomish County's comprehensive approach to securing election data through transparency and federal partnershipsWhy content-defined zero trust is transforming data protection across state and local governmentHow public sector leaders balance core security fundamentals with emerging technologies to protect critical data Get full access to TechTables at techtables.substack.com/subscribe