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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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Unichem Laboratories breaks down silos, bolsters cybersecurity with Trend Micro

Breaks down silos, bolsters cybersecurity with Trend Micro

OVERVIEW

Based in Mumbai, Unichem Laboratories operates across two core verticals: active pharmaceutical ingredients and final tablet production.

The 75-year-old pharmaceutical leader has six manufacturing plants, with the USA being their primary market contributing a significant revenue share.

With advanced facilities, Unichem discovers and develops pharmaceuticals while ensuring accessibility, affordability, quality, and patient-focused values. Beneath this thriving commerce lies a wealth of sensitive data, making cybersecurity a top priority, particularly protecting critical patented drug information. Given modern cybersecurity threats and regulatory controls, Unichem reached out to Trend to bolster their endpoint and cloud workload security—underpinning their business operations, manufacturing, and supporting their users.

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CHALLENGES

In December 2019, Unichem faced significant cybersecurity challenges which affected their systems and IT network, highlighting the need for a robust defense strategy against targeted attacks.

Furthermore, CERT-IN guidelines introduced additional compliance requirements for the organization, highlighting the importance of strengthening their cybersecurity framework.

Unichem Laboratories needed a dedicated cybersecurity team in place, as they experienced siloed visibility across their IT infrastructure that caused security gaps and complicated workflows. The increasing complexity of threats and a sprawling attack surface worsened the situation.

We evaluated multiple vendors, but Trend Micro won us over with their industry-leading platform story, exceptional after-sales support, and commendable response time during critical situations.

M. Kumaresan

CIO, Unichem Laboratories

WHY TREND

Unichem’s partnership with Trend provides them with a security solution as well as a dependable ally.

Trend delivers complete and holistic solutions powered by cybersecurity platform approach and complete after-sales service.

“We evaluated multiple vendors, but Trend Micro won us over with their industry-leading platform story, exceptional after-sales support, and commendable response time during critical situations,” says M. Kumaresan, CIO of Unichem Laboratories. “They also placed great emphasis on empowering our team with the necessary product knowledge prior to the implementation.”

Trend Vision One™, with XDR capabilities, offered broader visibility across Unichem’s IT infrastructure, enabling threat hunting, detection, investigation, and response, all from a cybersecurity platform.

SOLUTION

Unichem initially implemented Trend Micro Apex One™ to safeguard their endpoints.

Following CERT-IN’s guidelines, they recognized the increasing need for comprehensive security, enhanced visibility, and reduced response time across their IT infrastructure. Unichem further enhanced their defenses by deploying Trend Vision One to fortify their endpoints and cloud workloads, reducing the risks that come with siloed solutions and lack of integration.

With Trend Vision One, Unichem gained central visibility and control to prioritize cyber risks and bolster their defense posture. The platform offered features such as root cause analysis of incidents, advanced correlation, and automated workflows. These addresses resource constraints, resulting in a zero-threat approach to security and smoother business operations—while also helping Unichem meet compliance requirements.

Not only has Trend Micro’s security solutions helped us ensure business continuity, but they have also significantly enhanced our threat hunting capabilities.

M. Kumaresan

CIO, Unichem Laboratories

RESULTS

The journey from EDR to XDR proved fruitful, providing a centralized dashboard and comprehensive threat intelligence analysis for better visibility, thereby reducing mean time to respond (MTTR) and mean time to defend (MTTD).

“Not only has Trend Micro’s security solutions helped us ensure business continuity, but they have also significantly enhanced our threat hunting capabilities,” says Kumaresan.

Equipped with advanced security measures, including enhanced response and detection capabilities, Unichem is well-prepared to navigate the evolving cybersecurity landscape and a widening attack surface.

WHAT'S NEXT

Unichem is optimistic about their continued partnership with Trend.

In addition to the industry-leading platform, the customer service and support they’ve received have allowed them to maintain business continuity while keeping their focus on core operations.

Having been without a security operations team, discussions on SOC as a Service and Network APT with Trend has given Unichem a clear direction for their future cybersecurity strategy.

Technologies

Apex One™ Cloud One – Workload Security Trend Vision One™ cloud security platform

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.