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Belgium 01-10-2026 Squad Only Virtual english

Letting Teams Build Safely with Low-Code, No-Code, and AI Tools. ; How to enable business-led development while keeping security, architecture, and support under control.

Low-code, no-code, and AI tools are giving business teams more ability to build solutions themselves. The challenge is setting the right boundaries before fast local solutions become important operational assets. Three pressure points need attention. - Boundaries must be clear: teams need to know what they can build alone and what requires IT, security, or architecture review. - Supportability matters when a quick solution becomes business-critical. - Risk control remains necessary around data access, compliance, security, process dependency, and maintenance. The working question is simple: how do we enable business-led development while keeping security, ownership, and support under control? If you are trying to enable this safely, let’s compare approaches with others facing the same balance.

Belgium 06-10-2026 All Members Physical english

The Token Trap: Reclaiming Control of Enterprise AI

As enterprise AI transitions from experimental Proofs of Concept (POCs) into real implementations, digital leaders are encountering a shared challenge: consumption-based public cloud token billing models do not fit neatly into traditional IT budgeting. Daily token consumption can rise unexpectedly, pushing expenses through the roof while arbitrary caps quickly kill momentum for innovation. For many CIOs, this raises an open strategic question: How do we keep costs under control while further stimulating innovation? During this interactive CIONET roundtable, we will explore among peers how to navigate AI tokenomics. Rather than treating public cloud LLMs as the default path, we will investigate how different execution environments, ranging from hybrid cloud setups and targeted on-premise models to specialised edge hardware, can help balance cost with performance. This session is intentionally designed as an open peer-to-peer exchange; a space to compare notes, challenge current ways of working and architectural setups, and discuss practical approaches to building predictable, scalable AI models.

Belgium 08-10-2026 All Members Physical english

The Permanent (R)evolution

Every large organisation has been through a major transformation, and most through several. The word transformation is misleading because it suggests a beginning and an end. But organisations that do well are the ones that have given up on the idea of arriving and realise that constant change has become the new norm, and missing a single cycle leaves you permanently behind. This evening, two leaders will share how they think about this, coming from opposite directions. John Porter led Telenet through a sustained period of reinvention spanning the pandemic, a full reorganisation into tribes, M&A, and a shift to a performance driven culture. Along the way, the IT department was dissolved and technology was embedded inside autonomous tribes that run as small businesses. There is no CIO at Telenet. It is Telenet Group’s purpose to become a digital-first, customer-centric organisation. To deliver on this ambition, it has embarked on a transformation journey built on three pillars: (i) the implementation of a scaled-agile operating model (organisation), (ii) the acceleration of digitisation and automation underpinned by optimised IT systems, platforms, and strategic technology partnerships (digitisation), and (iii) a performance leadership culture focused on accountability, ownership, and a change mindset (culture). Kris Vervaet, on the other hand, has just become CIO at KBC, the bank whose mobile app has been ranked best in the world three times and whose AI assistant Kate now handles 70% of customer queries on its own. But Kris is no ordinary CIO: he ran DPG Media Belgium as CEO, and KBC went looking for someone who has led transformation rather than someone who manages technology. So while one organisation got rid of the CIO role, the other reinvented it, and both are thriving. The conversation will range across organisational and IT redesign, the rise of digital-first customer experience, the impact of AI on how every business is run, and the harder questions of culture, talent and leadership. The question for every leader in the room is what that tells you about your own role, your own operating model, and the pace at which you are prepared to keep evolving.

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Helping a global financial services company migrate to SD-WAN

Enabling transformation at speed and scale with our enhanced SD-WAN solution.

Overview
Customer service is king. Three-quarters of customers say a positive experience influences their purchasing decisions when banking1. That’s why when one of Europe’s biggest banks asked us for help, we needed to step up and meet these demands. We needed to transform our customer’s infrastructure to provide a secure cloud experience, while offering an innovative new digital service. Agile Connect Nuage SD-WAN was a clear winner, allowing the organisation to fully embrace this technology without increasing their costs.

The challenge
Offering a range of financial services, the customer needed to restructure its architecture to help it deliver on visibility, control and security capabilities for all its branches and subsidiaries worldwide. Operating in more than 30 countries, its vast global reach meant that they needed to upgrade their networks so they could benefit from the improved performances and lower complexity that SD-WAN provides. This would also allow them to meet the needs of their customers and end-users anywhere, anytime. It would also enable them to offer innovative tools that would make customers' lives easier and enhance their ongoing experience, like mobile apps and telematics.

But the customer’s existing network couldn’t keep up with its ambitions. The organisation needed higher bandwidth to keep up with its increased digital demand. But doubling the capacity of its MPLS infrastructure would also significantly increase the cost. In addition, setting up new offices, embracing remote working and cloud connectivity is performed at a much faster pace. But MPLS has strong benefits and moving to the internet also presents security challenges – a key consideration for an industry where security and safeguarding data is paramount.

Moving to an over-the-internet connection would solve many of these problems. But the customer was facing the challenge to provide the same level of service in all countries. They also couldn’t afford to handle a network transformation like this in-house. A managed SD-WAN solution was the obvious choice.

In order to foster innovation and support their digital transformation, our global customer can fully leverage our managed SD-WAN solution, Agile Connect. This provides them with the platform to grow and expand worldwide, in a consistent and predictable environment. Combined with Managed Fortinet Firewall, there is no compromise on security as they can rely on us to protect each and every site, without facing the challenge to invest on highly skilled resources to deploy and maintain such infrastructure globally.”

BT client director

The solution
With Agile Connect, we were able to provide the customer with the speed and scale they needed. The SD-WAN solution is built on Nokia's Nuage Networks, so it can dynamically adapt to traffic needs as they change. Despite being an internet-based solution, it's integrated into our global network. Every user is connected through a single platform. And offices and remote workers get seamless performance, wherever they are.

With Agile Connect's centralised management provided by BT, customers are better able to see and control their entire infrastructure and security. And the network is segmented too. So if a breach happens in one area, data in other areas stays protected. To secure our global customer sites, the SD-WAN is combined with BT Managed Fortinet Firewall. This is a very cost-effective way of securing your SD-WAN by detecting malicious activity at the edge of the network, so you're protected right away. While built-in SSL decryption keeps every user safe.

The result
As a result of deploying Agile Connect and Managed Fortinet Firewall, our customer gained simpler deployment and greater control over their network. In return, the customer has been able to enjoy higher bandwidth, greater connectivity and flexibility at lower costs.

By completely revamping the network infrastructure, not only did the customer benefit from the latest innovations but they were able to free up internal resources, allowing them to invest more in their digital transformation. Now they can benefit from a centrally managed and secure network that is agile and cost-effective. Whilst also creating opportunities to open new offices, access the cloud and foster innovation.

All without compromising their security. Sites are now managed through a single pane of glass, deployed in a standard and secure way in each location to ensure business continuity and data protection.

Technologies

BT Managed Fortinet Firewall Nuage Networks SD-WAN

CIONET Business Circles

Cyber Circle

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.

Telenet Business Leadership Circle

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.

Les Rencontres

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 !

Female Leadership Circle

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.