By
Iain Oldman - Copywriter - Content Marketing, Internet2
3 Questions for Mark Rank from Cirrus Identity
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
This fall, the global research and education (R&E) technical community will gather in Minneapolis, Minn., to solve real-world challenges together at the 2026 Internet2 Technology Exchange (TechEX26).
The TechEX26 program was developed by a committee of experienced R&E community members. Deep technical content is delivered via presentations, tutorials and workshops, working meetings, and other activities divided across four subject tracks: Advanced Networking, Cloud Technology, Identity and Access Management, and Information Security.
Ahead of TechEX26, held Oct. 26-30, Internet2 sat down with some of the committee members who help shape the conference into the premier annual technical event for the global R&E community.
Mark Rank, the director of compliance and strategic insights at Cirrus Identity, is a TechEX26 Program Committee chair and helped build the programming that comprises the Information Security track.
For more than two decades, Mark has worked across the R&E IT community, with roles in both university IT and the education technology vendor space.
We wanted to hear from Mark about this year’s Information Security programming, including why many sessions are important not only for security engineers but for IT practitioners across all departments.
Continue reading to see why the topics in this year’s agenda are pressing for everyone in R&E.
Are there any persistent challenges you’re hearing from the R&E community, and how will the Information Security track address those challenges?
Cybersecurity is a perennial challenge for the R&E community. The field of cybersecurity continues to grow more complex, and that adds pressure for security teams.
To help security teams strengthen their toolboxes, we aimed to include something for everyone in the Information Security track. Sessions range from securing the network to covering multi-factor authentication (MFA) principles to exploring recent trends in Zero Trust and AI.
BGP and Route Policy for R&E Networks Workshop Monday, Oct. 26 from 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Zero Trust Segmentation Architectures – Balancing Academic Agility, Security, and TC | Thursday, Oct. 29 from 1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Who is actually in the room for Information Security track sessions, and does that differentiate TechEX26 from other conferences?
One of the recurring highlights of TechEX over the years is that it attracts R&E IT professionals from across the community who typically attend sessions beyond their primary area of expertise.
The Information Security track is always a melting pot for curious IT professionals. It is not uncommon for a session to include security analysts, network engineers, identity and access management professionals, a high-performance computing sysadmin, and even a chief information security officer or two. Everybody at an institution has a role to play in security.
Automatic Honeypot Generation AI Agent | Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Server Certificates – From a Chore to a Commodity | Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 2:40 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
What’s a session or topic in your track that you think will attract the most curiosity from attendees?
I am proud that we were able to include several sessions led by international participants in the Information Security track this year.
Research is a global effort, and so is the work to secure it. I’m looking forward to hearing perspectives from our international peers.
IoTEdu: Identity-Driven IoT Governance for Research and Education Networks | Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 2:40 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Network Data Catalog: An Infrastructure for Providing Real Network Data to Support the Scientific Community | Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
SOC as a Bridge to Performing the Six Main Cybersecurity Functions: From Protection to Incident Response | Thursday, Oct. 29 | 11:20 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Meet Mark Rank
Director of Compliance and Strategic Insights at Cirrus Identity
How long have you been involved in the R&E community?
20+ years
Fun fact about you:
I have a fermented rye porridge sourdough bread recipe that takes three days to make.
What points of interest in Minneapolis would you recommend to TechEX26 attendees?
The Highland Park neighborhood in Saint Paul has a bunch of outdoor Peanuts character statues.
Lead the Conversation at TechEX26
TechEX26 is only a few months away. If you’re a member of the global R&E technical community, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to participate in and lead important discussions about the future of R&E IT.
Take some time to explore the TechEX26 program, and don’t skip over the tutorials and workshops that kick off the conference on Monday, Oct. 26.
New to TechEX?
Check out our first-timers’ guide to TechEX. The guide includes pre-conference resources, tips, and information about exclusive events for TechEX newcomers to help you connect and maximize your experience.
About the Author(s)
Iain writes for the Internet2 Community Engagement team with a focus on digital content and strategic communications. He has a background in digital marketing and journalism, with his byline appearing in newswires, regional publications, and nonprofit news organizations.