Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- Full-day cybersecurity conference at the University of Texas at Dallas on October 1, 2026, co-hosted by DigitalEra Group and UT Dallas
- Keynote speakers include Theresa Payton (former White House CIO) and Rachel Wilson (Morgan Stanley Managing Director, former NSA executive)
- Topics span AI security, digital transformation, operational resilience, fraud prevention, and the intersection of economics and cybersecurity
- Designed for CISOs, CIOs, IT security professionals, risk managers, and government officials from non-vendor organizations
- Complimentary admission for qualified attendees includes sessions, lunch, cocktail reception, and CPE credits
About the Event
Secure Dallas is the North Texas expansion of DigitalEra Group’s cybersecurity conference series, building on nearly a decade of the Secure Miami event. Co-hosted with the University of Texas at Dallas, the conference takes place on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center. The full-day program combines keynote presentations, expert panels, and networking opportunities aimed at strengthening the regional cybersecurity community.
Featured Speakers
Theresa Payton delivers the guest keynote. Payton made history as the first female White House Chief Information Officer under President George W. Bush and currently serves as CEO of Fortalice, a digital security firm. Her expertise covers secured digital transformation, AI, and privacy, with experience advising Fortune 500 boards and technology executives.
Rachel Wilson, Managing Director and Chief Data Officer at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, also delivers a keynote address. Wilson leads cybersecurity efforts focused on protecting client data, ensuring operational resilience, and combating fraud. She previously spent 15 years at the NSA, leading cyber and counterterrorism operations.
Additional speakers include Nate Howe (CISO at UT Dallas), Dr. Dann Arce (Ashbel Smith Professor of Economics at UT Dallas), Dr. Pengfei Zhang (Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Economics, and Cybersecurity at UT Dallas), Dr. Marcelo Leal (Assistant Professor of Cyber Security, Technology, and Policy at UT Dallas), Thomas Pace (Co-Founder and CEO at NetRise), and Arnie Shimo (Chief Security Officer and Co-founder at Sevii).
Key Topics
The conference addresses cybersecurity leadership, digital transformation, AI and privacy, risk management, operational resilience, and fraud prevention. Sessions also explore the intersection of economics and cybersecurity, with academic perspectives from UT Dallas faculty specializing in public policy and economic analysis of cyber threats.
Who Should Attend
Secure Dallas targets IT security professionals, CISOs, CIOs, business executives, risk managers, and government officials. Complimentary admission is available to qualified professionals from corporate, SME, or government organizations (non-vendor). Admission includes access to all sessions, lunch, and a closing cocktail reception. Attendees receive CPE credits and complimentary professional headshots.
Sponsors
HiddenLayer serves as the diamond sponsor. Platinum sponsors include NetRise, Sevii, and Island. Arctic Wolf is the gold sponsor, with ThreatLocker as silver sponsor. Community sponsors include WiCyS DFW, NTXISSA, TechBesties, and ISC2 DFW. DigitalEra Group and the University of Texas at Dallas are founding sponsors.