AGENDA

Technologists use a few predominant ciphers to safeguard data-at-rest and data-in-transit. Breaking a cipher amounts to solving a math problem: With current technology, computations can take minutes, days, years — even centuries. Attendees will learn how the advent of quantum computing and the eventual realization of faster solutions may reduce this to hours or even seconds. Without unmanageably-frequent password and key changes, many of today's ciphers could be broken in near real-time. Will the market arrival of quantum computers bring an end to our refuge in this zone of non-computability? Will our cryptographic standards become useless or broken? We will explore the theory and discuss the efforts of the federal government (NIST, CISA) to get a jump on timely and future-proof alternative ciphers.

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity are terms many people have heard but may not have a concrete understanding of what they mean. Without a plan for surviving a disaster, an organization risks a delayed recovery, prolonged service disruption, lost revenue, and reputational damage. This session will define these core concepts, overview the industry standard model for conducting this work, share methods to set an achievable scope, and discuss the common challenges that arise.

Learning Outcomes

• Define Disaster Recovery and related terms
• Identify critical systems and dependencies
• Resources to get started

The presenters will demonstrate the Broadband Navigator as a tool that can help Michiganders understand the broadband ecosystem, as well as its constituent parts: infrastructure; mapping and data; digital literacy and digital equity; cybersecurity; policy; and funding. The Navigator also includes case studies of government, nonprofits, and industry across Southeast Michigan to understand and improve access to broadband internet. The presentation will showcase how this product came to be and what it aims to achieve, and will also show attendees how they can use the tool to learn more about broadband in general, as well as what resources they can access to achieve an equitably connected community. Attendees will learn how to access and explore the Navigator and what applicability the tool has for their communities.

Higher education continues to be an inviting target for cybercrime and attacks by foreign state agents, hacktivists, and domestic criminal syndicates. Being resilient in a rapidly shifting cybersecurity landscape requires credible intelligence and sound strategies. Using cyber intelligence from multiple sources, this presentation will examine current and future higher education cyber threats. Content will include successful strategies like shifting from multiple-point solutions to innovative mesh architectures.

This session explores "Netrics", a new approach to measuring connectivity developed at the Internet Equity Initiative, part of the University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute. Merit Network and collaborators at Michigan State University have joined this effort to promote a robust, sustainable, and scalable framework for network performance measurements — and close the connectivity gap. Presenters will discuss a pilot study recently launched by Merit in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan to demonstrate proof of concept and explore correlations between network performance and educational outcomes.

The Michigan Bureau of Elections and Michigan DTMB teamed up with local election officials from across the state to develop the Michigan Elections Lab to help local clerks explain how election security works. The lab details the multiple steps involved in running an election, including pre-election work of voter registration, ballot and tabulator programming, accuracy testing, and post-election audits. Each step describes the people, processes, and cross-checks that make our elections secure. Join us for a walk-through of the elections lab and ask your election security officials questions.

From the introduction of television in the mid-20th century to the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, screens have become increasingly powerful, portable, and prevalent. But screen technologies are often designed to keep us engaged as long as possible. Although immediate access to virtual social networks can provide social support, strengthen relationships, and increase feelings of connectedness, screens can also have negative impacts on our mental well-being. Attendees will get an overview of the current state of research on screens and mental health, and hear practical strategies on how to use screens to support healthy development.

Join us as we explore the Palo Alto Networks' Security Operations Center. The session will look at operations, daily threat statistics, and how the security company defends itself against over 1 trillion security events per month from the most advanced threat actors on the planet.

This session will explore the challenges and benefits of transitioning to cloud-based telephony in (Hybrid work environment) a higher-education setting by reviewing the experience of the University of Michigan. It will also include a discussion on 5G private cellular infrastructure and the added value of a private LTE/neutral host network in today's hybrid environment.

The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) is working to implement programs from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that are designed to expand high-speed internet service to every home, business, and institution in the state and encourage Michiganders to adopt it, as well as address other challenges of the digital divide. Join the MIHI Office and staff from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to hear about these programs and how you can be part of the efforts to connect every Michigan resident and community.

As a statewide research and education network, Merit has a unique vantage point to watch for cyber threats against our members. By combining this capability with advanced automation, intelligence, and the skills of our Information Security team, we are creating a Security Operations Center (SOC) that will allow you to identify, respond to, and block threats like never before. Join us as we share a sneak peek of this new service, focused on providing effective alerting, cyber intelligence, and community-building in a way that every organization — from libraries to universities — can take advantage of.

This session will discuss key frameworks and practical approaches on how public and private leaders successfully manage the 3C’s (contemplation, collaboration and construction) of a P3 broadband network deployment in understandable terms. During this session, the speakers will present best-in-industry thoughts on how to contemplate, collaborate and construct fiber broadband infrastructure within your communities, starting with an explanation of different P3 models and how to select the best model for your goals. Successful P3 work when private operators mutually benefit along with the public entity. This session will explore why it’s important for public leaders to understand key business drivers of private broadband operators and how they tend to think about their business models. Finally, the best laid plans fall short if constructability isn’t considered. You will learn about the diverse ways to manage and build out infrastructure and leave prepared to take advantage of this once-in-a-generation funding opportunity.

Boldly go where not enough organizations have gone before: innovative inclusive learning and working environments that understand and empower the Superheroes in their midst! Discover a unique strengths-based perspective that shatters the myths and stigma around mental health and neurodivergence. With Avengers and X-Men, gain insight and evidence-based tools for engagement and empowerment that benefit everyone in your organization. Get ready to make real change, shake up the status quo, and have fun too!

Over $1 billion in federal and state grants to expand broadband access in Michigan will be available in the coming 18 months. These funds come from different programs with differing requirements and processes. Fortunately, best practices to prepare your submission are the same for nearly all broadband grants. Join Liz Shay from Grants Office LLC and Chris Greene Hutchings from the Michigan Moonshot to learn how to plan and build a competitive grant proposal.

The structure of your public-private partnerships (“P3”) will make all the difference in the short- and long-term success of a community network initiative. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, just as no one community is the same as the next. The ultimate success of any P3 arrangement comes down to the right balance of risk and control between the public and private entities. How do you get started, and what does it mean to build a truly community-minded P3 partnership? Kristoffer Tobbe, CIO of Livingston County, and Brian Snider, CEO of Lit Communities, will discuss their most recent P3 agreement, the journeys that brought them to this point, and the pathway forward as they work to connect all Livingston County residents.

Taking Security for Education and the Enterprise to the Next Level with PFN and 911inform

Tragedies are reported in the news daily, and institutions throughout the US are searching for a better way to be prepared for emergencies of all kinds. The PFN and 911inform teams will provide an opportunity to learn and see via a live demo:

• 911 compliance and laws
• How to gain visibility to cellular 911 calls instantly
• Effectively using safety technology during an emergency
• How to bring silo-ed technology into a more usable common platform
• Providing access to this technology for public safety during an emergency

Join us for an afternoon of networking and connection, presented by our MMC Gold Sponsor, Lit Communities. Try the Andorian Ale or a favorite libation, paired with the opportunity to expand your professional network, forge new partnerships, and strengthen existing ones. Engage with our Merit community and boldly network like never before!

Project MOON-Light: Merit's Statewide Foundation for Digital Infrastructure

Learn about Merit's new Project MOON-Light (Michigan Open Optical Network-Leveraging Innovation to Get High-Speed Technology for all), which aims to make our state the best connected in the nation. One of the first next-generation infrastructure projects of its kind in the country, MOON-Light solves the middle-mile problem where communities have few or no options in connecting their local last-mile networks to the greater internet. The statewide infrastructure upgrade will allow Merit to collaborate with community and private providers on last-mile network expansions. Services are set to begin in fall, helping to deliver affordable broadband network access, enhance quality of life, and provide equitable opportunities for all. In this session, teams from Merit and fiber networking company Adtran will outline how using an "all-coherent" architecture supported by advanced tooling systems supports this project.

Ensuring that our users follow our cybersecurity guidance is something that never ends. But how do we measure if our training and efforts are doing anything? By testing, of course! Merit's cybersecurity program has evolved to the point where performing more advanced testing, such as placing lost "malicious" USB drives around the office, is required to keep attention high and potential threats away. In this session, you will learn how to ensure your organization is ready for such testing, how to design an effective USB drop campaign, how to execute the test while retaining support and engagement, and how to report and communicate your results to leadership and staff.

For too long small communities have had their digital future tied to the whims of profit-seeking companies that receive federal and other public funding to build inadequate, out-of-date broadband infrastructure. It's time to change that. Beaver Island is working to make that change by exploring opportunities for it to be a partner and have a voice in next-generation telecom infrastructure. What we need to be competitive may not be commercially viable, so we are exploring ways to close that gap while making sure our tax dollars are used to fund systems we control. Attendees will learn about our efforts and the processes we have used on the island to close the services gap, including our community-built interim system and our plans to drive funding to support a community system.

In this session, we will discuss "bad actor" tactics and their methodologies as it pertains to cyber defense and recovery. Participants will learn from examples of successful and failed results. We'll take a deep dive into architectures that can improve cybersecurity posture and recoverability. The right knowledge empowers you to build a better defense. Follow-up sessions will be made available to continue the discussion and address attendees' particular needs and concerns.

In 2016, our community college created a project for advanced cybersecurity students to conduct a vulnerability analysis of the college to gain real-world experience. The project has been so successful that their vulnerability analysis reports have become part of the college’s regular internal security studies and documentation. The project has provided students with valuable hands-on experience with the tools and techniques used to identify vulnerabilities. They report those findings back to the customer in a written report and group presentation. The analysis covers areas such as internal and external scans, physical security, and social engineering. Students conduct the analysis with guidance from the instructor and the security department, but the students perform all the work themselves, including writing the report and presenting their findings.

This session will help attendees understand the Michigan Moonshot from Michigan communities that have been through the process. Key topics include data collection, validating availability of service, and how to use this information to help your community broadband plan Boldly Go!

COVID-19 moved essential day-to-day interactions online, and those without reliable, high-speed access are being left behind. As broadband shifted from an amenity to a necessity, Detroit adopted a bold and sweeping plan capable of closing the gaps by improving access and affordability. What motivated Detroit leadership to adopt such a plan? How does the plan demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the complex issues associated with digital equity? What risks does the City face as it advances its agenda and what lessons can other communities take away from Detroit’s experience? These questions and more will be considered in an in-depth consideration of the Detroit plan with audience discussion.

Zero Trust has become an overused marketing term in the security industry, but it doesn’t mean its without value. In our discussion we will give an overview of how you can find out what Zero Trust means to your organization and how Presidio and Netskope can facilitate your journey toward a Zero Trust Architecture. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how Zero Trust is more than a buzzword and can help your organization achieve a higher security posture.

For us to be effective in cybersecurity, not only do we need to protect the easy things we know about, but also the difficult or hidden network devices which we are forced to support. Consumer, personal, and IoT devices pose a particular challenge, as we must learn to not only discover these devices on our network, but understand them, take ownership of their consequences, and build an effective security program around their use. Attackers will always succeed by compromising the weakest link in your cyber chain, and for far too long we have just characterized these unmanaged endpoints as not being worthy of our concern. This stops now!

In this introductory session on device discovery and management, attendees will learn how to gain a full understanding of the network devices they support (whether they like it or not) and how to apply cybersecurity concepts properly to these IoT and consumer products that refuse to be managed by normal means.

This three-hour workshop will walk you through creative applications of graphical information systems (GIS) for community connectivity. Unlock the power of GIS by learning from industry experts and network operators. Don't currently have GIS capabilities in your municipality or organization? Participants will learn about basic GIS resources used in broadband expansion initiatives, presented with GIS use cases and demonstrations.

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