Polk County Security Summit

Why we're gathering

AI changed the threat model. This is where Polk County's leaders catch up — together.

Today's threats generate flawless phishing lures, automate ransomware, and use everyday system tools and AI scripts to slip past signature-based defenses. The Polk County Security Summit brings CIOs, CISOs, and their teams into one room for a focused half-day of practical intelligence — a live adversary demo, hard-won lessons from putting AI into security operations, and the peer conversations that matter for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. No fluff, no hard sell.

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AI-powered threats

How AI-generated phishing lures, AI-based ransomware, and defense-evading tradecraft actually work — and what holds up against them.

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Live demos

An AI adversary demonstration — what AI-enabled attack activity actually looks like when it runs in front of you, not on a slide.

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Governing AI

Emerging policy and governance for enabling AI innovation while managing real security risk.

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AI in the SOC

Early lessons from applying AI to security operations — and its real effect on the people already doing the work.

The running order

Agenda

Nine sessions across four hours, built so IT leaders get the morning context and security practitioners get the afternoon implementation detail — and both sides have a reason to stay all day. Box lunch provided.

9:30 – 10:00 AM

Doors Open & Networking

Arrival, introductions, coffee, and informal networking.

10:00 – 10:10 AM

Welcome & Setting the Stage

Establishing the purpose of the day and introducing the Polk County CIO ThinkTank.

Led by Joshua Sitta & Chip Nuttall

10:10 – 10:40 AM

Building a Common Language: Traditional Threats, AI Threats & Agency

AI usage still lacks a standardized universal language. This session builds a common baseline for talking about internal and external AI use cases before the day moves into more advanced material.

Led by Joshua Sitta

10:40 – 11:20 AM

Make the Threat Real: AI Adversary Live Demonstration

From concepts of external AI capability to a tangible demonstration of what AI-enabled adversarial activity actually looks like — and how to convert those threats into growth opportunities for your program.

Led by Matt Wagner & Garrett Poorbaugh

11:20 – 11:50 AM

Governing AI: Moving Before the Rules Are Finished

A provocative governance session for leaders who have to make AI usage and approval calls now. Surfaces the components of effective governance that are easiest to overlook.

Led by Zachary Eikenberry

11:50 – 12:10 PM

Box Lunch & Break

Lunch, a stretch, and time to keep the conversations going before the second half.

12:10 – 12:50 PM

AI in Action: Initial Lessons from SOC Operations

Working through the first hurdles of applying AI to security operations — building operations from natural language, and how to define and design these solutions around your program's objectives.

Led by Garrett Poorbaugh

12:50 – 1:20 PM

AI Workforce Today: Efficiency, Effectiveness & Human Behavior

Introducing AI into daily operations demands intention about its impact on processes and on people. A look at the leading research on minimizing the adverse consequences of AI integration.

Led by Garrett Poorbaugh & Alex Delfino

1:20 – 1:50 PM

2035: Three Predictions About the Future of Security

Beyond the operational conversation and into what the security landscape may actually look like five to ten years out.

Led by Zachary Eikenberry

1:50 – 2:00 PM

Practical Close

Closing statements and a short list of things team leaders can act on Monday morning.

Led by Zachary Eikenberry & the summit team

🍊 Session titles and leads are set. Slide content is finalized close to the event — the material moves too fast to build months ahead.

Who should attend

Built for the people accountable for security — and the students who'll inherit it

Admission

Free tickets

for students and IT leaders across Polk County and Central Florida.

Full-time and part-time students (with valid .edu or student ID)
IT & security leaders — CIO, CISO, Director, and VP roles
Lunch, coffee, and materials included

Claim your free seat →

You'll fit right in if you're a…

CIOCISOVP of IT Director of IT / SecurityNetwork & Security Engineer IT ManagerGRC / Compliance Deputy / Public Sector ITStudent in CS / Cyber / IT

Drawn from Polk County's banks, hospitals, universities, logistics, manufacturing, and county & city government — anchored by the Polk County CIO ThinkTank and open to the wider Central Florida community.