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Belgium 01-10-2026 Squad Only Virtual english
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.
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Belgium 06-10-2026 All Members Physical english
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.
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Belgium 08-10-2026 All Members Physical english
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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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
Banking Institution protects Financial Services with Layered Threat Defense from Trend Micro
Protects Financial Services with Layered Threat Defense from Trend Micro
OVERVIEW
The customer experience is paramount to this financial institution, which starts with the best cybersecurity. Independent and locally owned, the bank prides itself in providing outstanding customer experiences and superior cybersecurity protection to its clients.
When the bank moved its IT operations in-house from a managed service provider several years ago, it adopted a suite of Trend Micro solutions to create a layered approach to cybersecurity. Under the recommendation of their vice president and information systems supervisor, the IT team has continually added to its suite of Trend Micro solutions to develop a more robust defense system. More recently, the bank wanted to enhance its threat defense strategy to address current and emerging challenges, and they turned again to Trend Micro.
CHALLENGES
Their leaders wanted a centralized information repository within the bank’s IT network so they could have better insight into its end-to-end data flow. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic introduced the need to ensure endpoint security with a partially remote workforce. “During shutdowns and employee quarantines, some of our workforce has intermittently worked from home. We need to be sure our endpoint security is solid,” says their VP and Information Systems Supervisor.
To remain competitive and be prepared for future threats, the bank was also looking for tools that could benchmark its cybersecurity processes to its industry. In addition, they needed to understand what threats were on the horizon so it could justify additional investments. “We need to be able to look at risk as a whole, so we know where we are and what we need to do. A detailed view of what’s happening in the cybersecurity landscape can help us make the best decisions.”
Trend Micro solutions have been foolproof for us. When we receive alerts for known issues in the industry, our bank doesn’t have those issues. Trend Micro solutions make sure of that.
Vice President and Information Systems
WHY TREND
Already a loyal customer, the bank was confident Trend Micro could deliver solutions that would address both immediate and future needs. “Trend Micro solutions have been foolproof for us. When we receive alerts for known issues in the industry, our bank doesn’t have those issues. Trend Micro solutions make sure of that.”
Trend Micro’s high level of commitment to customer support was also a deciding factor. “The Trend Micro support team is stellar. There’s always someone available to answer my question or direct me to the help I need. In my world, that level of support is essential.”
Given the state of flux in the world and in the industry, we know we need to be prepared for whatever the future brings. Trend Micro solutions help us do that.
Vice President and Information Systems
SOLUTION
The bank already had several components of the Trend Micro Smart Protection Suite in place. Continuing its layered defense approach, they initially added Trend Micro Apex Central™ to the mix to address its need for centralized collection, monitoring, and control over its data.
The bank then upgraded to Trend Micro Apex One to further bolster endpoint security and help resolve its remote worker–related security issues. “We originally migrated to Trend Micro Apex Central because we needed a centralized repository for information. The upgrade is an extension of this and provides the additional endpoint security we need as workers go off and on-premises.” A big plus for the bank is how well Trend Micro Apex One works together with Deep Discovery Analyzer and Email Security to provide them with comprehensive protection.
The financial institution is now also using Trend Micro Vision One. “I love how Trend Micro Vision One collects deep activity data across multiple vectors and produces correlated, actionable results. I appreciate how this solution easily integrates with Trend Micro Apex One.”
RESULTS
The financial institution now enjoys centralized control over its IT cybersecurity network, stronger endpoint protection, and greater visibility into the entire cyber threat landscape. “We run our own scripts and do our own cleanup. We need to see how all that flows. We have that capability with Trend Micro Apex One, and now we’re seeing how Trend Micro Vision One extends that end-to-end visibility.”
The bank’s VP and information systems supervisor finds the dashboard features very useful in positioning the bank to be proactive. “I can use the Trend Micro™ Zero Trust Risk Insights dashboard to compare our risk profile to other similar institutions so we can make adjustments to improve our profile.” By detecting early ransomware, the Security Assessment dashboard warns the IT team of a potential vulnerability before trouble strikes. “The features Trend Micro solutions offer help us be more aware of the threat environment around us so we can better protect our business and our customers.”
WHAT'S NEXT
They are ready to take the next step toward even more informed cybersecurity by implementing Trend Micro™ Deep Discovery™ Inspector, which detects targeted attacks and ransomware anywhere in the network. “I’m very excited that Deep Discovery will give us the additional visibility into the actual source of the data. We’ll be able to see the missing pieces.”
As threats become more sophisticated and pervasive, the bank is focusing on a strong defense system using the latest technologies. “Given the state of flux in the world and in the industry, we know we need to be prepared for whatever the future brings. Trend Micro solutions help us do that.”
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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 !
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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.
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