Behind the Security Track with Drew Sidel: Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25 

Sidel: The Security Track is an integral part of the event, and I’m honored to play a role alongside Dedra Chamberlin from Cirrus Identity and Petrus Williams from the J. Paul Getty Trust in shaping the conversation around this critical topic. Our focus was to gather experts to address current security issues, bringing together the best minds in the research and education community to discuss the latest security challenges and opportunities.

Proposals were selected for their practical solutions, interactivity, and knowledge sharing. By incorporating the knowledge and experiences of our community members, we can ensure that the Security Track is informative, engaging, and impactful.

The Security Track is vital to the Internet2 Community Exchange, and community input is key to its success. I believe the 2025 Security Track will provide a valuable forum for discussing trends, sharing practices, and finding solutions to benefit the entire community. Together, we can create a more secure and resilient digital landscape for research and education.

Sidel: This year’s Security Track focuses on the most pressing priorities and opportunities for the R&E community including:

– Data security: Protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access and cyber threats,
– Network security: Safeguarding the integrity and availability of critical infrastructure, and
– Identity management: Ensuring that only authorized users can access resources.

In addition, the Security Track will explore the unique security challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Sidel: There is lots to look forward to in the Security Track, but the sessions I am most excited about include:

– The Lasso Way: IT Leadership with Heart on Tuesday, April 29th,
– Proactive Planning for Identity Modernization: The Crucial Role of Readiness Assessments on Wednesday, April 30th, and
– Incident Response Tabletop Exercises: They’re not just a game on Thursday, May 1st. 

Building effective teams is one of the greatest challenges for leaders, and it’s a skillset that I’m always working to improve, which is why The Lasso Way: IT Leadership with Heart caught my attention. I’m excited to learn how community members approach building great teams while facing challenges like limited resources and rapidly evolving technology needs.  

In addition to building great teams, I really appreciate the approach of proactive planning and building comprehensive readiness assessments for any project, the reason I look forward to attending Proactive Planning for Identity Modernization: The Crucial Role of Readiness Assessments. I am excited to learn how two member organizations built their identity modernization plans, and how those learnings can be applied to other areas.  

Finally, I’m excited to attend Incident Response Tabletop Exercises: They’re not just a game because, though I’ve never participated in an incident response tabletop exercise, many of the tools I use day-to-day are critical in effectively investigating, triaging, and remediating security threats for Workspace organizations. This session seems like a perfect opportunity to learn about these low-stakes opportunities for staff to learn how to best respond to security incidents and identify opportunities for growth.  

Apart from these sessions, I also look forward to leading a panel on AI on Campus: Balancing Innovation and Data Security on April 29th with a number of higher education leaders. We’ll discuss how these leaders are striking a balance to provide cutting-edge AI tools to their faculty, staff, and students, while also ensuring privacy, security, and compliance in instruction, learning, and everyday work.

Sidel: I am particularly excited about this year’s event’s networking and social opportunities. The chance to connect with peers and colleagues across the R&E community is invaluable. These informal gatherings, such as meal times or impromptu run-ins between sessions, often lead to some of the most fruitful discussions and collaborations.  

The social events at the Internet2 Community Exchange are always a highlight, including the welcome reception, working meetings, and connecting with one another at the sessions. They provide a relaxed setting for exchanging ideas, sharing challenges, and brainstorming solutions with peers.

The connections and relationships forged at these events often lead to new partnerships and initiatives that benefit the entire community.

Sidel: I hope attendees leave Community Exchange with a renewed sense of purpose, feeling inspired and empowered to make a difference in their respective roles. I also hope they gain practical knowledge and strategies for implementing new technologies and addressing the challenges that come with them.    

Lastly, I hope attendees build strong relationships with their peers and colleagues across the R&E community. The connections made at the Community Exchange can lead to lasting friendships, collaborations, and partnerships.