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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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Playtech enhances its security with Trend Micro to deliver seamless, secure online gaming experience

Enhances its security with Trend Micro to deliver seamless, secure online gaming experience

OVERVIEW

As one of the world’s largest online gaming platforms, Playtech provides best-of-breed games and gaming services – such as casino, live casino, bingo, poker, and sports betting – across channels around the world. In a highly regulated industry, a seamless, secure experience is crucial for online gaming. Playtech must not only avoid service disruptions but also meet strict compliance requirements. That’s why Playtech relies on Trend Micro to ensure that its networks, production environments, and endpoints are fully protected without causing downtime.

"Virtual patching caught our eye and convinced us to select Trend Micro. Patching across such a big environment can be very complicated. Deep Security Software virtual patching is a game changer."

Daniel Liber - Chief Security Officer, Playtech

CHALLENGES

Playtech is a pioneer in omnichannel gambling, which offers operators and their customers a uniform experience across any product, channel (online, mobile, retail), or device using a single account and wallet. It’s critical to ensure security protection and service continuity across Playtech’s entire distributed IT ecosystem, which includes thousands of servers, virtual machines, and containers that run Playtech’s gaming systems.

Playtech also needs to meet strict compliance requirements and is subject to dozens of annual audits by external organizations in each of its operational districts.

“It’s a difficult combination. We face the same level of regulation banks do, and every gambling jurisdiction has its own rules. On the other hand, we need to be innovative and provide technical superiority over our rivals because competition in this industry is fierce,” says Daniel Liber, chief security officer at Playtech.

WHY TREND

When looking to bolster its existing security systems, Playtech invited several security providers to conduct a proof-of-concept (POC) project that simulated a cyberattack against its systems.

“Trend Micro was the leader in the POC. They definitely came out on top,” says Liber.

But Playtech’s ultimate decision to go with Trend Micro went beyond technical considerations—the differentiator was the human factor.

“We formed a very good relationship with the Trend Micro sales and account management teams. The support and communication they offered us were important and played a large part in our decision to select Trend Micro,” says Liber.

SOLUTION

Playtech selected Trend Micro™ Deep Security™ Software to protect its hybrid-cloud workloads and automatically detect vulnerabilities, malware, and unauthorized changes. Deep Security Software’s virtual patching capabilities, intrusion prevention system (IPS), and integrity checks are critical features from both a security and compliance perspective.

Many of the regulations Playtech must meet specifically require IPS and integrity checks on its production systems. Because it includes those features, Deep Security helps Playtech achieve and maintain regulatory and compliance requirements.

Trend Micro Premium Support has been instrumental in helping Playtech make the most of its Deep Security Software implementation. With its 24/7 emergency assistance from Trend Micro support technicians, Premium Support brings Liber and his team peace of mind.

"The cycle of communication with Premium Support is extremely fast. You cannot put a price tag on that. It’s tremendously important to us."

Daniel Liber - Chief Security Officer, Playtech

RESULTS

Since implementing Deep Security Software, Playtech has seen significant increases in security coverage for the company’s production environment. Deep Security Software virtual patching has reduced the time spent dealing with patching issues by approximately 40%, allowing the team to spend time on other critical activities. Deep Security Software has also helped Playtech bolster its intrusion prevention efforts by reducing false positives and missed incidents by approximately 50%, resulting in more accurate information and reducing the “noise” that IT staff must address.

Additionally, Deep Security Software improved Playtech’s reporting, enhancing the company’s audit response. Many audits require the company to prepare and share detailed reports and dashboards. With Deep Security Software, Playtech can produce those reports much faster and provide greater detail, enabling the company to easily drill down into the data to answer in-depth questions if required.

Improved reporting capabilities also allow Playtech to respond to security alerts much faster.

“Information coming from the alerts, including instructions on what to do and where the issue is, is very clear with Deep Security Software. We don’t need to do an in-depth investigation ourselves around those alerts. We can easily see and understand what the issue is and how it’s been addressed,” says Liber.

WHAT'S NEXT

Playtech is currently considering further containerization of its services, which could present new security challenges. The company is working with Trend Micro to strategize how Trend Micro services and platforms can help protect Playtech throughout their digital transformation.

Technologies

Trend Micro™ Deep Security™

Partners

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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.

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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.

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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.