Educational Webinar

The State of Cybersecurity in the 
Financial Institution Industry

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October 30, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT

Financial institutions are considered a highly regulated and mature sector in terms of cybersecurity, but what does that look like in action? To find out, we surveyed more than 238 cybersecurity professionals who work for community financial institutions. In this session, we will review these survey results and compare them against prior years of surveys, discuss key takeaways, and share tools and techniques to take your own cybersecurity program to the next level.

We will also be speaking with special guests from the financial institution industry to help provide context, give best practices, and offer commentary on the findings in the report.

Guest Speakers

  • Sarah Stevenson, VP of Regulatory Affairs, NASCUS
  • Alvin Mills, VP Information Technology and Security, Texas Bankers Association
  • Zach Milstead, SVP & CISO, Director of Technology and Security, Guaranty Bank & Trust
  • Ruth Norris, Director of IT Security Examinations, Texas DOB
  • Bobby Cude, VP, CoNetrix Technology
  • Alyssa Pugh, GRC Content Manager, Tandem

Here are just a few of the takeaways you can expect from the webinar:

  • Understand the value of Board of Director oversight and involvement.
  • Know what tools and frameworks are most valued by financial institutions.
  • Track key trends that can drive institutions towards or away from a stronger cybersecurity posture.

Guest Speakers

Sarah Stevenson

VP of Regulatory Affairs
NASCUS

Sarah Stevenson joined NASCUS in May 2022, bringing 19 years of credit union regulatory experience. Previously, she was Corporate Activities and Risk Assessment Manager for Michigan's Office of Credit Unions and spent eight years as Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Michigan Credit Union League. She has worked closely with agencies like the NCUA, CFPB, and FTC, served on Michigan’s Cannabis Banking Taskforce, and helped rewrite the Michigan Credit Union Act in 2015. Additionally, she developed a compliance and audit program as a loan officer and compliance manager for a $300 million credit union.

Alvin Mills

VP Information Technology and Security
Texas Bankers Association

Information Technology & Cybersecurity professional with over 30 years of experience leading cybersecurity initiatives, compliance and regulatory adherence, data privacy, and risk management programs in Financial Services, Higher Education, and Healthcare industries. MSBA from Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business. Certified System Security Professional since 2001.

Zach Milstead

SVP & CISO, Director of Technology and Cybersecurity
Guaranty Bank & Trust

Zach has over 25 years of experience in technology and security across multiple verticals. He has a passion for understanding and overcoming complex challenges requiring deep analysis and strategic responses. With years of technical and management experience under his belt, Zach has successfully developed, implemented, and supported complex infrastructures for fast-growing enterprise environments. As a strategic advisor to executive management, he focuses on securing organizational growth through technological and procedural advancements.

Ruth Norris

Director of IT Security Examinations

Texas Department of Banking

Ruth Norris is the Director of IT Security Examinations with the Texas Department of Banking.  She received her BBA in Finance and Banking and Financial Institutions from Sam Houston State University and has been with the Texas Department of Banking since 2006.  The last 16 years have been concentrated in information technology, cybersecurity and operational risk management.  Mrs. Norris, a Certified Information Security Auditor, has assisted with numerous regulatory projects, and enjoys community outreach and teaching others about information security.  Her passion is to help banking organizations effectively manage risk in an ever-changing and challenging technology landscape.

Bobby Cude

Vice President
CoNetrix Technology

After graduating from Texas Tech in 1995 with a degree in Computer Science, Bobby Cude joined the Dallas/Ft. Worth IT industry. At Southwest Airlines, he was the second developer on the team that built the airline’s first online booking platform, which grew to handle over 80% of its revenue. Bobby was recognized for his contributions, served on the Corporate Culture Committee, and was promoted to Senior Manager of Technology before retiring in 2008.
From 2008 to 2016, Bobby worked as a director at CTSI before joining CoNetrix as Vice President of Technology. Back in Lubbock, he’s active in community leadership roles and serves as chairman of Texas Tech’s Computer Science External Advisory Board.

Alyssa Pugh

GRC Content Manager
Tandem

Alyssa Pugh is a content creator with a passion for helping people navigate the challenges of governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC). She has more than ten years of professional technical and information security experience. She currently serves as the GRC Content Manager for Tandem, where she participates in the development of cybersecurity content and educational resources. In addition to her passion for technology, Alyssa is also a wife, graphic designer, and video game enthusiast.