Grab your pass, grab a bite, and power up with a brew or two before we dive into a day of connection and conversation.

With the near constant evolution of the digital frontier, the threat landscape evolves just as quickly, leaving cybersecurity professionals and technologists alike in a continuous cycle of leveling up their defenses. Former NSA Deputy Director, George Barnes, knows that better than anyone. Now leading the cybersecurity practice at Red Cell Partners, a DC-based incubator and venture capital firm, Barnes joins IT Brew for a conversation on where his priorities lie in the current threat landscape including cyber vulnerabilities within US infrastructure, election security, how to prepare for quantum to be used as a nation-state hacking tool, how cybercriminals use AI, and ultimately, what's keeping him up at night.

Fifteen years ago, security leaders worried about fighting email spam to keep employees safe. Now, a new threat has entered the chat: rising identity-based attacks. According to research by Cisco Talos, compromised credentials continue to be a primary entry point for ransomware attacks that impact companies of all sizes and across all sectors. Identity protection including multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now a table stakes security measure. So, why is identity security still so challenging, and what actions do companies need to take now? During this session, IT Brew is joined by Cisco’s Matt Caulfield for a conversation on how companies can and must go beyond MFA practices and what the future of identity security looks like.