.png)
Belgium 13-11-2026 Squad Only Physical English
Many IT capabilities are essential and difficult to fund through a simple project ROI. The challenge is showing why architecture, governance, resilience, cybersecurity maturity, data foundations, and AI readiness deserve investment before the gap becomes expensive. Three pressure points make the case harder. - Shared value means the benefit often sits across several teams, while the budget sits in one place. - Timing creates friction because the cost is immediate while the value appears over time. - Risk translation is needed so business and finance leaders understand the consequence of delaying the investment. The working question is simple: how do we turn foundational IT capabilities into credible investment cases that link cost, risk, business value, and future flexibility? If you are building these cases internally, let’s compare how others are positioning value, risk, and timing.
Read More
Belgium 19-11-2026 All Members Physical English
Public organisations are re-evaluating the digital foundations on which critical services depend. Cloud strategy is increasingly shaped by questions of operational control, legal exposure, supplier dependency, interoperability and long-term resilience. For public-sector leaders, the issue is not only where workloads are hosted, but how much strategic control remains over the technologies that support essential public services. This is where European cloud initiatives, sovereign infrastructure and open-source technologies become strategically important. Together, they can increase transparency, preserve portability and reduce dependency on individual providers. But they also raise practical questions around maturity, procurement, integration, support models and long-term sustainability. Open source brings a specific dimension to this discussion. It claims to better support transparency, interoperability and strategic autonomy, but it is also requiring clear governance, security controls and operational support. The opportunity is to understand where open technologies can strengthen the public-sector technology stack, where commercial platforms remain essential and how both can coexist within a coherent European digital strategy. Three questions shape the discussion: Which parts of the public-sector technology stack require stronger European control? What role should open-source technologies play in reducing dependency and strengthening transparency? Which governance and procurement decisions will determine whether a sovereign cloud strategy succeeds? Bringing these perspectives together can define where sovereign cloud and open technologies create strategic value, identify the decisions that deserve executive attention, and establish practical principles for strengthening Europe’s digital foundations while preserving flexibility and innovation. See you at the table?
Read More
Belgium 24-11-2026 Country Members Physical French
Créativité vs. Chaos : Quelle est la gouvernance minimale ? Le défi principal est d'équilibrer le risque et le rythme du changement. Les équipes métier adoptent de nouveaux outils d'IA et low-code de leur propre chef, créant une véritable créativité mais aussi un risque massif et non géré. Cette discussion se concentre sur l'établissement de voies simples et sûres pour l'innovation, en débattant de la gouvernance minimale qui protège la réputation de l'entreprise tout en évitant l'erreur d'écraser les initiatives utiles dans l'ombre. Questions clés d'Échange entre pairs : Où l'innovation de l'ombre aide-t-elle plutôt que de nuire, et comment éviter de l'écraser ? Quelle est la gouvernance minimale qui protège la réputation tout en maintenant la vitesse, et à qui appartient-elle réellement ? Comment les pairs ont-ils réussi à transformer les efforts initiaux de l'ombre en services officiels soutenus sans perdre la confiance de l'entreprise ? Comment pouvons-nous rendre plus facile d'innover de manière responsable que de simplement agir en franc-tireur ?
Read More
CIONET Trailblazer: CISO: The Shift from Prevention to Resilience: Turning Visibility into Execution
Published on: January 28, 2026 @ 9:48 AM
CIONET Trailblazer: AI Transformation: Bridging the Cultural Divide to Achieve Competitive Advantage
Published on: December 17, 2025 @ 9:16 AM
Helping Nationwide guard against changing security threats
Creating a security risk framework that makes banking safer.
Overview
Mobile and online banking are growing. Fast. But so are threats to IT and network security. With members using more digital services along with traditional channels, Nationwide wanted to take a fresh look at threat management and Operational resilience.
Looking for expertise, Nationwide’s IT Operations & Service Delivery team turned to us. Based on a long foundation of trust, and our solid track record, we joined forces. Together, we’re protecting Nationwide – now and in the future. Because keeping Nationwide’s members and their information assets secure is as important as ever.
In the world of retail banking, more people than ever are turning to mobile and online apps to manage their money. That gave Nationwide an opportunity to give customers more personalised services on the move. And now, with BT we continue to provide robust and secure services ”. - Daryl BrookesIT Ops & Service Delivery Director
The challenge
The security and protection of customer data is at the heart of Nationwide’s digital strategy. “With more of our services available digitally, it’s really crucial that we help members protect their data. For a while now at Nationwide, our executive board has had an intense focus on this area.”
It’s not only banks who are trying to tackle the threat landscape. The UK government is also trying to coordinate intelligence sharing in the industry. But on the front line, it’s banks that have the ultimate responsibility. The danger is real, and it’s changing and getting more intense all the time.
To cope with a shifting threat landscape, Nationwide needed an approach that wasn’t just rigorous. It had to be agile, too.
The solution
Nationwide awarded us a six‐year contract. It covers significant aspects of IT and network security, combining tried and tested methods with a new, dynamic way of working. Together, we discuss every security development – in the bank, the industry and worldwide – to see if it calls for a change in process. Nothing is too small.
Our service covers substantial aspect of Nationwide's security – from design and implementation to 24-hour proactive and reactive monitoring. We brought together products and services from lots of leading providers to make sure security's covered at every level.
The Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority are testing security controls and technologies together. As Nationwide’s security partner, we have to satisfy both our own quality criteria and industry standards – like ISO 20000 service management accreditation and PCI DSS conformance – while developing and maintaining comprehensive ITIL based services.
Nationwide and BT have a long relationship. A solid cultural fit and strong mutual trust mean the Nationwide executive board feels confident that we have the skills and resources needed. “We’re reassured by the deep expertise BT shows in securing its own global network and those of other large organisations and government agencies,” says Daryl.
The world’s largest building society teams up with BT to protect its assets from the threat landscape.
The result
For the first time, our operational teams are permanently based in Nationwide’s Enterprise Command Centre. Nationwide has focused its security strategy to deal with the changing nature of threats facing the retail banking industry, and IT organisations in general. And we’re supporting this, having created an environment that will stay ahead of today’s would‐be attackers – and be ready for whatever happens in the future.
Nationwide's security strategy and operational model is designed to grow and evolve rapidly. This allows it to be flexible and responsive in delivering more secure and better digital services to its customers.
97 Views 0 Likes Read More
CIONET’s Cyber Circle: a new three-event programme exclusively focusing on the most urgent, complex, and high-impact challenges in cybersecurity today. Launched in 2026, this initiative brings together CISOs, CIOs, and senior IT executives with a strong interest in cybersecurity for three curated gatherings each year. As part of CIONET’s trusted executive community, the Cyber Circle provides a confidential, peer-driven environment to exchange insights, share real-world experiences, and address evolving cyber threats. Each session is designed to foster strategic dialogue, strengthen resilience, and elevate cybersecurity as a core driver of business value.
Read More
The Telenet Business Leadership Circle powered by CIONET, offers a platform where IT executives and thought leaders can meet to inspire each other and share best practices. We want to be a facilitator who helps you optimise the performance of your IT function and your business by embracing the endless opportunities that digital change brings.
Read More
Découvrez la dynamique du leadership numérique aux Rencontres de CIONET, le programme francophone exclusif de CIONET pour les leaders numériques en Belgique, rendu possible grâce au soutien et à l'engagement de nos partenaires de programme : Deloitte, Denodo et Red Hat. Rejoignez trois événements inspirants par an à Liège, Namur et en Brabant Wallon, où des CIOs et des experts numériques francophones de premier plan partagent leurs perspectives et expériences sur des thèmes d'affaires et de IT actuels. Laissez-vous inspirer et apprenez des meilleurs du secteur lors de sessions captivantes conçues spécialement pour soutenir et enrichir votre rôle en tant que CIO pair. Ne manquez pas cette opportunité de faire partie d'un réseau exceptionnel d'innovateurs numériques !
Read More
CIONET is committed to highlighting and celebrating female role models in IT, Tech & Digital, creating a leadership programme that empowers and elevates women within the tech industry. This initiative is dedicated to showcasing the achievements and successes of leading women, fostering an environment where female role models are recognised, and their contributions can ignite progress and inspire the next generation of women in IT. Our mission is to shine the spotlight a little brighter on female role models in IT, Tech & Digital, and to empower each other through this inner network community.
Read More
Would you like to know more about CIONET Belgium, membership or partnership opportunities? Do you have feedback or any other question? Send us a message!
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!