1.
Tell us about your role in curating the Security Track for the 2025 Internet2 Community
Exchange. How do community members’ insights and expertise shape the
program?
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.
2.
How do the sessions in this year’s Security Track reflect the most pressing priorities
and opportunities for the research and education (R&E) community?
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.
3.
What specific session(s) or speaker(s) in the Security Track are you most excited about
and why?
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.
4.
Social events and in-person interactions are highlights of the conference experience, as
well. Which event(s) are you most looking forward to, and how does gathering in person
with peers across the R&E community add unique professional value for
you?
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.
5.
As someone deeply involved in shaping this year’s Community Exchange program, what do
you hope attendees take away from the conference overall?
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.