Gina Yacone | Advisory CISO Midwest Rockies
Last month, the Midwest Rockies Security Team welcomed in a vibrant community of SOC professionals for a hands-on event designed to foster collaboration and spark innovation. Together, we tackled real-world challenges and advanced the art and science of Security Operations.
A Full Day of Immersive Learning
Our Denver office buzzed with activity as 50+ participants—CISOs, SOC Directors, Managers, Analysts, Threat Hunters and more—dove into practical exercises and workshops. These technical professionals eagerly explored tools like ReliaQuest, Recorded Future, Wiz, and Torq, while also gaining insights from Pentera’s continuous validation plus Polarity’s real-time contextual awareness through automated data overlay.
The day kicked off with a relaxed breakfast and networking period, where participants had the opportunity to forge meaningful connections. This was followed by a warm welcome session and introductions, which set a collaborative and energetic tone for the day. With spirits high and sleeves rolled up, attendees enthusiastically plunged into engaging breakout sessions simulating real-world security challenges.
Highlights from the Event
The power of collaboration and innovation was brought to life with each session packed full of energy, real-world challenges, and transformative insights. Here’s a look at how our partners and participants tackled some of today’s most pressing security operations needs:
ReliaQuest: Redefining SOC Visibility
ReliaQuest set the tone with engaging, hands-on scenarios that showcased how enhanced visibility can transform SOC workflows and streamline ticket management. Participants tackled real-world challenges head-on, gaining practical insights into breaking down barriers to visibility and response time. By the end of the session, teams left inspired to reimagine their strategies, equipped with actionable techniques to optimize workflows and make informed decisions under pressure.
Recorded Future: Actionable Threat Intelligence
Recorded Future captivated attendees by demonstrating how real-time threat intelligence can empower teams to proactively address emerging threats. The session sparked ideas and conversations, leaving participants with new approaches to protect their organizations against constantly evolving risks.
Wiz: Simplifying Cloud Security
Wiz inspired attendees with innovative solutions to today’s cloud security challenges. Their approach was both simple and effective, giving participants the confidence to protect modern infrastructures with practical strategies that felt not just achievable, but empowering. By showcasing their platform, Wiz left participants feeling equipped to tackle even the most complex cloud security concerns with clarity and confidence.
Torq: Revolutionizing Automation with AI
Torq's AI-driven automation workflows captivated participants by demonstrating how previously time-consuming processes could be streamlined for maximum efficiency. By integrating artificial intelligence, Torq showcased how Security Operations Centers (SOCs) can automate complex tasks, enhance threat detection, and accelerate incident response with their AI SOC Analyst named Socrates.
Pentera: Continuous Security Validation
Pentera’s security validation demo was nothing short of transformative. Participants explored continuous testing in action, walking away with new tools and techniques to proactively defend against threats. The “aha” moments during the session highlighted the value of this innovative approach to staying ahead in cybersecurity.
Polarity: Amplifying Decision-Making
Polarity’s real-time insights brought operational magic to the table, showing SOC teams how to make smarter, faster decisions without adding unnecessary complexity. As a new technology for the Mountain States Region, this session excited both participants and our team about the possibilities it offers. We are thrilled to bring Polarity’s innovative solutions to our customers, helping them maximize their impact with minimal effort.
Looking Ahead
As the day came to a close, the knowledge sharing continued. Attendees stayed to network, exchange ideas, and discuss how they planned to implement their newfound insights over happy hour. This event has undoubtedly set a new standard for SOC-focused engagements, as well as better together stories with partners. We’re already looking ahead, exploring ways to make next year’s event even better.
One SOC Manager shared, "The event offered a fantastic chance to see tools we don’t currently use and sparked ideas for enhancing our workflows.” This sentiment reflected the curiosity and drive many participants felt as they explored new approaches and technologies.
A local Denver cybersecurity student expressed a similar appreciation, noting the unique mix of networking and practical experience. “It was wonderful to network with SOC professionals and other students. The hands-on exploration of the tools made the experience really educational.” For me, this was such a special testimonial because it emphasizing how valuable it was to bridge the gap between learning and application.
For seasoned professionals, the event also delivered. A Threat Hunter remarked, "The event struck a nice balance between education, hands-on keyboard work, and networking. What I loved most was hearing about what companies are doing with AI and the SOC, as well as other tool. I enjoyed connecting with local SOC analysts and having meaningful conversations.”
This event was more than just a day of learning; it was a celebration of the innovation and resilience that define the SOC community. We’re proud to have provided a platform for such impactful learning and collaboration, and we can’t wait to see how our participants apply their new skills in their organizations. Here’s to many more successful events in the future!
Thank you to everyone who joined us and made this event a resounding success. Until next time—keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in Security Operations!
The People Who Made It Happen
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible partners—ReliaQuest, Recorded Future, Wiz, Torq, Pentera, and Polarity—for their invaluable contributions. Their expertise and tools were key to creating such a rich and engaging experience for our attendees. Additionally, this event would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the region, the cloud and security business units, and the Mountain States Security Team, who ensured everything ran seamlessly from start to finish.