<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=2528533714139722&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
New call-to-action
https://4295993.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4295993/INT_CIONET-International/VIDEO/CIONET_HM.mp4
CIONET - What's next

Connecting ambitious digital leaders and businesses around the globe.

Catch up on the upcoming CIONET Events

             
Banner

Belgium Sep 24, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english

Bridging the Unbridgeable: IT Meets M(i)OT ; Converged infrastructures demand converged security

As smart devices proliferate across operational environments — from sensors on factory lines and GPS trackers in logistics fleets to wearables in healthcare and connected systems in smart cities — the integration of Managed IoT (MiOT) is accelerating. But with it comes a surge in cybersecurity risks. No longer isolated or air-gapped, OT systems are becoming fully networked, remotely accessible, and deeply entwined with IT. This creates a vulnerable, highly complex digital mesh, one where a single compromised device can trigger physical, financial, and reputational consequences.

Read More
Banner

UK Sep 24, 2025 Country Members Physical english

CIONET UK Business Community Program: Creating agile partnerships – making the right choice between in and out-sourcing

Join us for our community event on 24th September in London. Join us for our community event on 21st May in London. Sponsored by Business Partners Cognizant, Orange Business, Entelect, Strategy, Stefanini & Thoughtworks.

Read More
Banner

Belgium Sep 25, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english

The power of Hybrid - Cloud-Native Application Modernisation as a No-Regret Move

On 25th September, during the Red Hat Summit: Connect 2025 in Brussels, CIONET is hosting an exclusive, invitation-only round table for leading CIOs, CTOs, and digital leaders. While the Summit offers a broad programme, this CIONET session is a separate, distinct event, conducted in its own dedicated room with private catering, ensuring a focused and confidential peer-to-peer discussion. This round table will delve into why certain cloud-native techniques offer undeniable benefits, irrespective of where your applications are deployed, be it on-premise, in a hyperscale cloud, or a hybrid environment. Even outside public clouds, these modern, modular architectures consistently deliver increased agility, enhanced scalability, and quicker time-to-market. The real power behind these advantages lies in automation. When done properly, automation significantly boosts team efficiency, improves system quality, and drastically cuts risks from slow systems or downtime. However, achieving truly effective automation comes with its own set of challenges, which we'll address head-on. Key Discussion Points Include: "No-Regret" Cloud-Native Pillars: We'll try to pinpoint essential techniques every organisation should adopt, such as microservices architecture, containerisation (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), API-first design, stateless application design, and immutable infrastructure. Why are these crucial for modern applications, no matter the deployment location? Strategic Vendor Lock-in: How to judiciously manage vendor lock-in. For new innovations and applications with a relatively short life expectancy, leveraging the latest unique features of a hyperscale cloud might be beneficial. For long-lived applications (expected to be live for decades), the focus might shift to limiting exposure by utilising generally available technologies. Automation Anywhere: How can organisations effectively implement automation strategies to unlock the full potential of cloud-native initiatives across diverse infrastructures? What are the biggest hurdles, and how are leaders overcoming them? This CIONET round table offers a unique and intimate setting for digital leaders to gain critical insights, exchange perspectives, and shape the strategic path towards application modernisation that truly offers no regrets.

Read More
Banner

Belgium Sep 25, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english

Women of CIONET - Female Leadership Circle 2

As AI shapes our future, the time is now to address and correct its inherent biases. Join leading female voices in tech as we explore how to undo past mistakes, champion neutrality, and feed AI systems with inclusive, unbiased data. This conference is a call to action for female leaders in AI and tech to ensure the next generation of intelligent systems reflects fairness, diversity, and equity. Together, let’s set things right and redefine the future of AI.

Read More
Banner

Poland Sep 25, 2025 All Members Physical Polish

COMMUNITY EVENT #7: HUMAN MACHINE

Agenci AI to przyszłość, która wyniesie organizacje na inny poziom dostarczania wartości biznesowej. Już teraz wiadomo, że nowa generacja inteligentnych agentów zmienia sposób, w jaki firmy działają, podejmują decyzje i się rozwijają. Podczas siódmego Community Eventu wraz z ekspertami AI sprawdzimy: możliwości, które dają agenci; jak wprowadzić governance i umiejscowić w organizacji tysiące sztucznych pracowników; jak zapewnić bezpieczeństwo, gdy każdy z agentów może wykonywać inne operacje; jaki jest wpływ wykorzystania agentów na koszty i środowisko; jak zmienia się pozycja firmy na rynku. Omówimy, jak liderzy IT i cyfrowi mogą i muszą strategicznie dostosować się do tej nowej rzeczywistości. Zarejestruj się już teraz i zapewnij sobie miejsce!

Read More
Banner

Italy Sep 25, 2025 Invitation Only Physical italian

Innovation in Balance: governing the power of data and automation

Nel percorso verso l’AI e la trasformazione digitale, dati e automazione sono gli elementi centrali di ogni strategia tecnologica. Ma senza una governance chiara, rischiano di diventare non solo fonte di inefficienza, ma anche di rischi e incoerenza.   Come garantire che i dati siano completi, accessibili e affidabili? Come automatizzare le operation IT e i processi aziendali mantenendo controllo, compliance e sicurezza?   Durante questa roundtable esclusiva, organizzata da CIONET Italia e IBM, affronteremo:   La governance come abilitatore di dati affidabili e automazione sicura. Come prepararsi a un’adozione dell’AI realmente scalabile. Il ruolo di controllo, resilienza e gestione del rischio nell’innovazione.

Read More

Recent Cases

Please Log In with your CIONET account first

Aziende Industriali di Lugano (AIL) SA locks down its utility grids and IT networks with Trend Micro

Locks down its utility grids and IT networks with Trend Micro

OVERVIEW

Aziende Industriali di Lugano (AIL) SA is a Swiss corporation that produces, transforms, transports, distributes and markets energy, drinking water, water for industrial use, and raw materials for energy production. The company’s products and services are purchased every day by more than 110,000 individuals and businesses in the 56 municipalities of the Sottoceneri region of the Swiss canton of Ticino, which extends from Monte Ceneri to the Swiss border at Novazzano. This makes AIL the most important retail and wholesale distributor of water, natural gas, electricity, and heat of the Ticino canton.

 

 

CHALLENGES

Since 2015, Aziende Industriali di Lugano (AIL) has needed a solution that could effectively monitor the entire utilities grid and IT network in order to control the provision of electricity, water, and gas and to take quick action in the event of alarms. “From 2015 to 2017, we tested various solutions, not including Trend Micro, but none of them were able to fully meet our needs, especially in relation to monitoring our utilities grid,” said Michele Rusconi, head of ICT & FO Infrastructures for AIL.

 
 

WHY TREND

“One day, our partner MTF Info Centro SA, which had recently begun working with Trend Micro, suggested we try out their network inspection solutions. The monitoring and analysis of traditional IT networks proved to be excellent right from the start, but the solution didn’t yet support utilities grids.” Over the next six months, though, the research team at Trend Micro developed recognition of technical protocols to meet AIL’s needs. “That was when we knew it was the product for us,” Michele Rusconi continued. “Trend Micro was the only company to provide analysis of flows of the entire network, and we also very much appreciated Trend Micro’s support of and focus on us, and this continues to today.” Subsequently, in order to achieve full integration, AIL also chose to adopt the Trend Micro suite for endpoint protection.

 

"The greatest benefit so far is something we experienced recently when we were the targets of an attack that took advantage of a vulnerability in our systems. The Trend Micro solutions detected it immediately, and in just half a day we were able to apply the right patches. Most likely, without Deep Discovery Inspector, we would have lost an entire day without getting a clear idea of what had happened."

Michele Rusconi - Head of ICT & FO Infrastructures for AIL

 
 

SOLUTION

In order to meet AIL’s security needs, Trend Micro came up with a custom protection strategy that monitors the IT and utilities networks and controls the endpoints. The networks are now protected by Deep Discovery, specifically Deep Discovery Inspector for detection and Deep Discovery Analyzer for remediation. For the endpoints, Aziende Industriali di Lugano use the Enterprise Security Suite. These solutions communicate with each other in real time and are managed centrally by the Trend Micro Control Manager.

The cornerstone of this project is Trend Micro Deep Discovery, the most complete solution of its category in combating APT attacks. Not only does Deep Discovery have the tools it takes to detect zero-day exploits and other threats throughout the network and during all phases of an attack, it has also been designed to provide in-depth analysis tools to prevent future attacks. Deep Discovery’s network detention capabilities and custom sandbox analysis can detect the spear phishing email messages that are often at the heart of the attack, identify the malware, and discover the external command-and-control (C&C) sites used by the cybercriminals. Deep Discovery Inspector, in particular, is a network device that provides full control over all network traffic in order to detect any aspect of a targeted attack. Deep Discovery Inspector monitors all network ports and more than 100 protocols to provide the broadest protection available. Specialized detection engines and custom sandboxing identify and analyze malware, C&C communications, and the evasive actions of attackers that are invisible to standard security solutions. Deep Discovery Analyzer, in turn, provides analyses in custom sandboxes, thereby increasing the value of security products, such as endpoint protection, web and email gateways, network security, and other Deep Discovery products.

 
 

THE BENEFITS

“The greatest benefit so far is something we experienced recently when we were the targets of an attack that took advantage of a vulnerability in our systems,” said Michele Rusconi. “The Trend Micro solutions detected it immediately, and in just half a day we were able to apply the right patches. Most likely, without Deep Discovery Inspector, we would have lost an entire day without getting a clear idea of what had happened.” As the head of ICT & FO Infrastructures, Rusconi is greatly satisfied with Trend Micro, especially, as he says, “for the convenience of having a complete view over all that transits over the network, not just in relation to threats, but also to protocols that may not always work properly and the ability to make fixes.”

 
 

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

At Aziende Industriali di Lugano, they have a great many ideas for development. “From an anti-spam project based on Trend Micro solutions to an assessment of our protection in relation to SCADA,” Michele Rusconi concluded, “[with the goal] of having increasing levels of integration and collaboration between the solutions we use in order to ensure maximum security for our company’s critical infrastructures and, in turn, for our customers.”

Checkout our CIONET COOKBOOK

cookbook

Embark on a culinary journey through the ever-evolving world of digital leadership with our third edition of the CIONET Cookbook: Recipes for Digital Success. Unveiling the intricate trilemma faced by today’s Master Chefs, our trailblazing European CIOs address a challenge at the nexus of customer interests, digital transformation strategies, and IT modernisation. Their secret? Synchronising the gearing between customer, business, and technology to create a frictionless movement through the digital landscape.

The CIONET Cookbook uses the analogy of a five-star restaurant to explain the importance of optimally integrated technology, with the CIO as Master Chef. In order to provide the best service to its customers, a top restaurant must have the right atmosphere, an inviting menu, a well-equipped kitchen, talented and committed front-of-house and kitchen staff and smooth-running processes that ensure an enjoyable experience for diners.

CIONET TV

 
Banner

Kalman Tiboldi - CTO & Founder at GemOne-TVH - Simplify or Die: Why Complexity Is the Real IT Challenge

Banner

Isabelle Droll - CIO for Airline, Corporate, Hotels & Resorts and Sustainability at TUI - Data, Diversity, and Destinations

Banner

Sharon Prior - CIO in transition - How Great Tech Leadership Begins with Business Thinking

Banner

José Antonio López, Group CIO at TOUS - Jewels, Data & AI: Inside the Digital Transformation of TOUS

Banner

Tom Tanghe - General Manager ITC EMEA at Daikin Europe - Reinventing the CIO Role

Banner

CIOFEST 2025 - From Order Taker to Proactive Disruptor

CIONET Reports

 
Banner
Get your copy

A research proposal_AI and the Human Experience

As AI transitions from a specialised tool to an all-pervasive force, understanding its profound implications for our human lives is no longer merely academic but an urgent imperative for social well-being and strategic preparedness.

Banner
Get your copy

Cybersecurity in critical infrastructure

Geopolitical tensions have dominated the headlines for over two years now. In this context, the cyber threat landscape is also evolving rapidly. The protection and security of critical infrastructure – both physical and digital – is becoming increasingly important.

Banner
Get your copy

HDS - From Hype to Reality Navigating the Challenges of GenAI

Join over 10.000 digital leaders worldwide

in our exclusive CIO community

Latest CIONET News

Join your local CIONET community

Discover the CIONET app

Staying ahead of trends and connecting with other CIOs was never easier.

In our new app, our members connect with other digital leaders from around the world to find better solutions to their challenges.

Connect with digital leaders like you

Share ideas, best practices, and new resources

Experience inspiring and thought-provoking content and conversations you can’t find anywhere else

Make better, more well-informed decisions about the topics that are most important to you

Anna Kopp (1)

Anna Kopp

Head of IT Germany and Regional Office Lead Munich, Microsoft

“The CIONET App allows us to learn from eachother and and find the courage to be authentic by hearing stories from others! Thanks to Tobias and the whole team for bringing us together:-) ”
Mauricio Amaro

Mauricio Amaro

IT Director, IT Thinker

“The main things that I would like to get from our community of Digital Leaders are: networking, share experiences, share best practices and successful cases, and comments and recommendations about providers.”
Vijay Anand

Vijay Anand

Vice president IT & Compliance, VisionaryRCM (A Carlyle Grp Company)

“The CIONET app provides a really cool platform to network and share insights.”

About CIONET

CIONET’s mission is to help IT executives become more at ease and above all more successful in their jobs. So they can do more than just keep up with change but ultimately define it. CIONET opens up a whole new universe of opportunities in IT management.

With the largest membership of corporate digital leaders across Europe, Latin America, US and Australia, CIONET has the expertise and pioneering vision to solve or address any IT management challenge.

Why join CIONET?

From our local and global events, from our publications and research to our executive education programmes, everything we do is aimed at making sure digital leaders maximise their potential.

Connect

with digital leaders who share your interests, who face the same challenges, who care about the same topics.

Share

stories, experiences, and ideas around our shared mission.

Learn

from our exclusive events, publications and research.

Find

inspiration, thought-provoking conversations, expert perspectives and exclusive first-hand content each and every day

Grow

and make better, more well-informed decisions on how to lead your digital business.

Maximise

your potential. Realise your ambitions.

About CIONET

Join CIONET

We'd love to welcome you as the newest member of our CIONET community where Digital Leaders unite. 

You can either send us a registered handwritten letter explaining why you'd like to become a member or you can simply talk to us right here!

Contact us

Would you like to know more about CIONET, membership or partnership opportunities? Do you have feedback or any other question? Send us a message!