CIO&CISO Benelux Roundtable

Identity as the Control Plane: Securing Digital Transformation in a Hyper-Connected Enterprise

As organisations accelerate cloud adoption, API-driven ecosystems, and workforce mobility, identity has become the primary control plane for security, compliance, and user experience. This panel will explore how Benelux enterprises are using identity to balance security with business agility—without slowing innovation. Panelists will discuss real-world challenges around hybrid environments, third-party access, and evolving regulatory pressures such as NIS2. The conversation will focus on practical decision-making rather than technology sales. Expect candid insights on what works, what doesn’t, and what’s next.

Panel Questions:

1. Is identity now the single most critical security control, or just one of many?
   How has its role changed in your organisation over the last 2–3 years?
2. How do you manage identity consistently across hybrid, multi-cloud, and legacy environments?
   Where do most organisations struggle in practice?
3. Third-party, partner, and contractor access remains a major risk—what governance models actually work?
   How much access is “enough” without blocking the business?
4. With NIS2 raising the bar on accountability, how are boards reacting to identity and access risk?
   Are CISOs getting more support—or more pressure?
5. How do you balance strong authentication and zero trust principles with user experience?
   Where have security controls caused friction or pushback?
6. What role should automation and AI play in identity governance and access decisions?
   Where is it adding value today, and where is it still hype?
7. Many organisations have multiple IAM tools—build, buy, or consolidate?
   What drives your decisions at an enterprise level?
8. Looking ahead 3–5 years, what identity-related risk keeps you awake at night?
   Is it humans, machines, AI agents, or something else entirely?

When Worlds Collide: Managing Cyber Risk at the IT/OT Convergence

As Operational Technology (OT) environments become increasingly interconnected with Information Technology (IT) systems, organizations are gaining unprecedented visibility, efficiency, and operational capabilities. However, this convergence also introduces new cybersecurity risks that can impact not only data and business processes but also physical operations, safety, and critical services.

This interactive 30-minute roundtable will provide participants with a brief introduction to OT environments, the key differences between IT and OT, and the challenges arising from their growing convergence. Participants will then collaboratively analyze three real-world-inspired scenarios that highlight common threats facing modern cyber-physical environments.

Through guided discussion, attendees will identify vulnerabilities, assess operational and business impacts, and propose practical mitigation strategies. The session is designed to encourage knowledge sharing between cybersecurity, operational, and business stakeholders, fostering a broader understanding of how organizations can strengthen resilience across interconnected IT and OT ecosystems.

Speaker: