<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

Germany Oct 20, 2025 Country Members Virtual german

Online: AI & DATA Knowledge Transfer - Briefing 20

Die Realisierung des Potenzials von KI und datengesteuerten Strategien stellt nicht länger nur einen Wettbewerbsvorteil dar, sondern ist Heute auch entscheidend für den langfristigen Erfolg eines jeden Unternehmens. Unsere Wissensaustausch-Briefings "AI & Data Knowledge Transfer" zielen darauf ab, CIDOs und Senior Digital Leaders praktische Anwendungen aufzuzeigen und umsetzbaren Erkenntnissen von Fachexperten zu vermitteln, die den Weg für die transformative digitale Reise ebnen und beschleunigen.

Read More
Banner

Belgium Oct 21, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english

CIONET Round Table - From Disconnected Data to Unified Insight ; Building a 360° customer view to unlock commercial growth

In today's competitive landscape, customer expectations have never been higher. They demand a personalised, seamless experience at every touchpoint, from initial marketing contact to post-sale service. Unified data is at the heart of creating engaging customer experiences and is meant to fuel the 360 profile.  However, for many organizations, a complete picture of the customer is fragmented, with critical data scattered in disconnected systems and departments.  This exclusive roundtable will bring together Digital Leaders active in multiple industries to discuss a critical challenge: breaking down data silos to build a true 360° view of the customer. We will explore how to solve the complex integration challenges that prevent a unified view, and how to transform disparate data into a single source of truth. Join us to: Discover how to overcome the technical hurdles of integrating critical business systems, such as ERP and CRM platforms, to unify customer data. Explore real-world case studies on how organisations have successfully created unified customer insights to enhance personalisation and boost commercial and operational efficiency. Discuss best practices for turning fragmented data into actionable insights that can anticipate customer needs, drive revenue growth, and foster long-term loyalty. This is a unique opportunity for Digital Leaders who are ready to transform their customer engagement strategy and unlock the full potential of their data.

Read More
Banner

Spain Oct 22, 2025 Country Members Physical spanish

Barcelona TECH Quest 2025

Descubre cómo las organizaciones están utilizando la tecnología para impactar en el negocio  a través de casos reales de uso y aprendizajes clave en áreas como ciberseguridad, automatización o data, contados por los protagonistas. Un espacio diseñado para inspirarte, conectar con expertos y potenciar la innovación en tu organización.

Read More
Banner

Belgium Oct 22, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english

The End of the Firewall

Enterprises are questioning whether private networks and stacked firewalls are still worthwhile investments. A newer approach operates on the open internet with Zero Trust, eliminates perimeter complexity, and reframes cybersecurity as a business performance metric for boards and audit committees. This is a closed-door, peer discussion, not a lecture. We’ll examine the promise and its pitfalls: Are the promised savings significant, or are they too good to be true? What risks do you introduce? How does this collide with your installed base, legacy OT, entrenched processes and team competencies, and how do you overcome that without breaking operations or credibility with the board? Two senior leaders from global companies will spark the dialogue with lived experience: Kurt De Ruwe, CIO AkzoNobel Frank Bolata, CIO Syensqo    

Read More
Banner

Poland Oct 23, 2025 Invitation Only Physical Polish

CLOUD UP'25

Cloud UP! ’25 to miejsce spotkań managerów, którzy chcą świadomie i skutecznie rozwijać swoje organizacje, wykorzystując najnowsze technologie. Nieformalnym hasłem tegorocznej edycji jest “Chmura gotowa na AI” - będziemy rozmawiać o tym, co sztuczna inteligencja naprawdę potrafi oraz pokazywać, jak wdrażać ją w praktyce. Wspólnie z ekspertami przeanalizujemy, jakie warunki muszą zostać spełnione, aby wdrożenia AI były zarówno skuteczne, jak i bezpieczne. Zerkniemy za kulisy najnowszych rodzimych produktów AI-owych, by zobaczyć ich możliwości, a także poznamy najciekawsze wdrożenia z wykorzystaniem Agentspace.  Po raz kolejny spotkamy się w formule Share.Explore.Execute. Stawiamy na wymianę wiedzy i doświadczeń zdobytych podczas realizacji projektów. To one stanowią punkt wyjścia do odkrywania, testowania i skutecznej implementacji najlepszych rozwiązań w organizacjach. Cloud UP! ’25 to cztery ścieżki tematyczne, na które złożą się prezentacje, rozmowy, sesje live-demo oraz pogłębione dyskusje w formule roundtables: AI: Beyond the Hype Data Mastery Resilience & Regulatory Advanced Practitioners Dołącz do liderów chmurowych innowacji w Polsce i spotkaj się z nami już 23 października w Event Hall w Fabryce Norblina. 

Read More
Banner

Belgium Oct 23, 2025 Invitation Only Physical english

AI: The Great Illusionist

How to lead responsibly when technology can deceive better than a human?  AI’s ability to shape our perceptions and create new realities is becoming increasingly sophisticated. While it opens significant opportunities, it also carries risks. What happens when AI goes beyond data and algorithms to influence - or even deceive - our senses? How does this change not only our understanding of reality but also the foundations of trust, creativity, and truth in business? AI isn’t just transforming business, it is altering how we experience and interpret everything around us. From AI-generated deepfakes to personalised experiences designed to influence behaviour, the line between truth and illusion is increasingly blurred. This event combines a roundtable discussion among peers with a hands-on sensory workshop, where you will experience illusions through sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Through these experiments, we will confront the ethical dilemmas that arise when AI has the power to fabricate realities and influence decisions.

Read More

Recent Cases

Please Log In with your CIONET account first

Mount Pleasant School District leverages Trend Micro to protect all data and prepare for the future

Leverages Trend Micro to protect all data and prepare for the future

OVERVIEW

Known as a technology trailblazer with over 20 years of experience in technology and a passion for discovering innovation, Noe Arzate, chief technology officer for Mount Pleasant Independent School District (ISD) knows that leveraging technology to accomplish current needs and prepare for the future is crucial. With thousands of confidential records, Mount Pleasant ISD considers securing data a top priority.

“We have to evaluate technology pragmatically. We have to prepare for the worst and hope it doesn’t happen,” says Arzate.

 
 

CHALLENGES

Educational institutions in the US experienced an average of more than two attack incidents per school day in 2020, according to the K12 Security Information Exchange. Mount Pleasant ISD in Titus County, Texas, faced the challenge of protecting more than 5,400 students across eight campuses, plus approximately 1,000 faculty and staff members, while leveraging technology to inform curriculum and instruction decisions. To accomplish this, and to prepare for the district’s future security needs, Mount Pleasant ISD chose Trend Micro.

 

With Trend Micro, it’s not just a purchase, it’s a relationship. It’s not just the technology, it’s the people that stand behind the technology.

Photo of Noe Arzate  Noe Arzate - Chief Technology Officer, Mount Pleasant Independent School
 
 

WHY TREND

While the district previously used Trend Micro™ TippingPoint™ to protect its data and endpoints, it was replaced by other tools due to a change in direction by school administrators. However, the COVID-19 pandemic presented the district with new security concerns, as students alternated between remote and in-person learning. He evaluated several other vendors to determine if they’d be a better fit for the district’s needs of securing each learning environment.

“We wanted to have the best protection for students learning from home, but we didn’t want to create obstacles to that learning. We needed to meet compliance requirements and empower kids to learn and progress. I kept coming back to TippingPoint because of the excellent job it did when I was a customer years ago,” says Arzate.

He also liked the fact that Trend Micro’s support and partnership compared to other vendors.

“With Trend Micro, it’s not just a purchase, it’s a relationship. It’s not just the technology, it’s the people that stand behind the technology,” says Arzate.

The solution and customer experience are exceeding Arzate’s expectations.

“I’m impressed with TippingPoint and Trend Micro. I know if I need help, I can get a hold of someone quickly who can help. I’m confident and happy that I selected Trend Micro,” says Arzate.

 

With Trend Micro, it’s not just a purchase, it’s a relationship. It’s not just the technology, it’s the people that stand behind the technology.

Photo of Noe Arzate  Noe Arzate - Chief Technology Officer, Mount Pleasant Independent School
 
 

SOLUTION

Arzate especially likes what he’s seeing in TippingPoint, the next-generation intrusion prevention system (IPS), which protects critical infrastructure, data, and vulnerable applications in real time from known, undisclosed, and unknown vulnerabilities without adversely affecting network performance. “When it comes to IPS, Trend Micro does things differently than other vendors. I like the architecture of TippingPoint and the way it’s positioned. We can set it up in different architectures and situations in our environment. It’s nice to see that the core of IPS and Trend Micro hasn’t changed—it has evolved to make something really good into something even better,” says Arzate.

Arzate also appreciated how seamless implementing and integrating TippingPoint has been during a demanding time for the district.

“TippingPoint has been extremely easy, from the sales side of things to the implementation of the product. I was able to schedule a call with Trend Micro and get it up and running very quickly. I also like the automation. You can set it up and forget it, which frees my staff to work on other critical needs,” says Arzate.

 
 

RESULTS

Mount Pleasant ISD is already seeing improved security protection without adverse impacts to its network performance. The district also works with another security vendor to provide external domain name system (DNS) protection. Placing TippingPoint in front of the firewall, in between its other server security vendor, allowed Arzate to see that some security events were still filtering through.

“Without TippingPoint, I wouldn’t have been able to see that. I could see that our other vendor is doing a good job, but not an excellent job because some security events are still getting in,” says Arzate.

The district plans to leverage that information to mitigate the events that are penetrating the system.

“It’s about finding the best position for TippingPoint to leverage the capabilities our other systems don’t have. Ultimately, having TippingPoint means having more data than ever to protect students, staff, and faculty even better,” says Arzate.

 
 

WHAT'S NEXT

Working with Trend Micro again has influenced Arzate to consider other ways in which the two organizations might collaborate in the future. “I’ve gotten to know Trend Micro again as a company, to understand their values and why they do what they do. That’s helped me see Trend Micro in a different light and to consider how we might expand our partnership in the future,” says Arzate.

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

How CIOs drive game changing results at scale?

The role of the CIO has evolved from managing systems to shaping outcomes: growth, resilience, and competitive edge are now won or lost in the technology arena. Today ’ s CIOs must balance stability with innovation, control costs while attracting scarce talent, and modernise legacy infrastructure while adopting emerging technologies.

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.

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!