In partnership with various security, compliance, and privacy-related organizations, ISS provides quality, cost-effective training, conferencing and networking events; promotes education and awareness to our community of professionals and students; facilitates Career Connection events, and promotes non-profit professional IT groups and organizations with their training and conferencing efforts. More information at https://www.informationsecuritysummit.org/

History
Information Security Summit (ISS), the Midwest’s largest gathering of security professionals, began as a homegrown idea by two corporate IT managers to elevate Cleveland’s rich thought leadership in cybersecurity. In 2002 ISS was founded by two individuals who were both working in cybersecurity services at the time.  Their idea was to create a local, all-volunteer security conference that created a space for professionals to learn without the barriers of cost or time to attend out-of-state conferences.

ISS gained traction immediately, with support and participation from the top IT security companies in the region and a host of cross-sector volunteers. The mission of ISS to educate, collaborate and evolve the local security community thrived amidst growing global threats of Cybersecurity and Denial of IT services, expanding to the largest and most respected cybersecurity summit in the Midwest. The idea of ISS came out of a meeting at Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Academy in 2001, and the ISS organization formed in 2002.

Accomplishments

  • The first fall Summit was held in 2002 at the Tri-C East Campus and attracted 150 attendees
  • The fall Summit attendance has increased every year, attracting over 600 attendees in 2014.
  • Since its inception, ISS has partnered with over 15 local non-profit organizations donating over $300,000.
  • Summit attendees came from over 11 states and represented 215 organizations.
  • In 2011 ISS organized the Chief Security Officer (CSO) Xchange.
  • In 2012 ISS held its first Spring IT Summit in Westlake, Ohio.
  • 2015 ISS launched the Certified Enterprise Resiliency Practitioner (CERP) training
  • In 2015 ISS expanded by adding Healthcare Day to its conference
  • 2016 ISS partners with HIMSS who hosts ISS’ first off-site event.
  • 2016 ISS expanded to a full week with over 1,800 attendees
  • 2017 ISS Spring IT Summit event includes SANS Community Training
  • 2017 ISS Spring and Fall Summits move to Cleveland’s International Exposition (I-X) Center
  • 2017 The EnergyTech Forum & Conference joins the 15th Information Security Summit
  • 2018 Another banner year for ISS
  • 2019 Over 1700 people attended The SUMMIT at the IX Center
  • 2020 The SUMMIT goes virtual amid the Covid pandemic and still attracts a record crowd.
  • 2021 The SUMMIT goes Hybrid at the Cleveland Wyndham Airport Hotel and has over 800 attendees
  • 2022 The SUMMIT moves back to LaCentre
  • 2023 The SUMMIT moves back to the I-X Center
  • 2023 Information Security Summit relaunches the CERP Program at ISS

FAQ
What is Information Security Summit (ISS)?
ISS is a registered 501(c)6 nonprofit volunteer-led organization. In partnership with various security, compliance, and privacy-related organizations, ISS provides quality, cost-effective training, conferencing and networking events; promotes education and awareness to our community of professionals and students; facilitates Career Connection events, and promotes non-profit professional IT groups and organizations with their training and collaboration efforts.

What is The SUMMIT
The SUMMIT is the most impactful week-long gathering of IT professionals in the Midwest. The Information Security Summit hosts the fall Security Summit Week annually during the last week in October. The week-long lineup of events features national speakers and local experts on the best practices in information security and data protection as well as fun activities like hackathons, Xceptional networking events, and competitions. The SUMMIT typically includes product-specific or industry-wide training programs and thought leader keynote addresses.

What is The SUMMIT Career Connection?
ISS promotes workforce development in IT and cybersecurity in Cleveland, and in the region. ISS offers students, veterans and IT job seekers who are seeking IT cybersecurity connections and careers, an opportunity to connect with industry professionals, recruiters, and advisors.

How does ISS Support workforce development locally?
ISS is constantly working with employers, job seekers, and educational institutions to provide quality, cost-effective training, conferences, career connections, and networking to IT professionals.

Information Security Experts
The Information Security Summit team and Advisory Board Members are led by Gary Sheehan, Executive Director of ISS.  Gary has led this all-volunteer, NFP organization since 2002 and has consistently produced excellent training, conference and networking events for the information security community.  We want to invite you to use our vast network of security professionals too as a resource to your work. To arrange an interview, contact Greg Coloian at greg@betterwithmustard.com.

IT Workforce Development, including:
* Basic Information security training for professionals new to the field
* Veteran IT workforce development
* Professional development and training, including SANS
* Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) training

Cybersecurity, including:
* Trends;
* National and regional security breaches;
* Policy;
* Security in healthcare, including patient device and data protection and vital needs for

Health system architecture;
* Security in law;

Information Security, including:
* Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) data security enforcement standards
* Challenges facing small businesses
* Risk
* Privacy
* Cloud computing
* Cyber-attack defense
* Data protection
* Mobile devices and data
* IoT
* Artificial Intelligence (AI)