How CIOs & CISOs Can Prepare for Oktane 2025

HIPAA Compliance Checklist for 2025

In today’s economy, the lines between business strategy, security, and technology have blurred. CIOs and CISOs no longer just oversee IT; they are strategic leaders who safeguard innovation, shape governance frameworks, and enable growth.

That’s why events like Oktane 2025, happening September 24–26 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, matter more than ever.

Hosted annually by Okta, Oktane has become the premier conference for identity, SaaS, and security professionals. In 2025, the focus sharpens on AI governance, invisible security, and enterprise SaaS transformation, the very issues CIOs and CISOs wrestle with daily.

So how can you make the most of Oktane 2025? This guide breaks down what to expect and how to prepare strategically.

‍

Why CIOs and CISOs Can’t Miss Oktane 2025

Identity and access management (IAM) has moved from a back-office IT function to the control plane for enterprise innovation. From shadow IT to AI risk management, CIOs and CISOs need frameworks that provide visibility, enforce governance, and reduce risk without slowing innovation.

Oktane brings together:

Thousands of CIOs, CISOs, IT and security leaders
Identity and SaaS innovators
Analysts, press, and government decision-makers
Sponsors and partners (including CloudEagle, co-sponsoring this year’s event)

For executives, it’s an opportunity to learn, network, and benchmark strategies against industry peers.

‍

Why Oktane Matters for Enterprise Leadership

Identity has evolved from a technical necessity to a strategic catalyst, intersecting AI governance, SaaS management, and cyber resilience. For CIOs and CISOs, Oktane provides a front-row view of where identity is headed, and how you can lead that shift rather than react to it.

What Answers You’ll Get at Oktane 2025

According to Okta’s preview, public-sector-focused sessions will tackle four big questions—each highly relevant to enterprise identity strategy:

1. How do you make identity the foundation for modern resident and workforce experiences?

The session “The Public Sector CIO’s Playbook on Identity, Security, and Cultural Change in the Age of AI” will showcase how to unify identity platforms not merely for authentication but to power culture, transformation, and measurable outcomes.

Speakers include a former Arizona CIO turned government advisor.

2. What does identity-as-a-shared-service look like in real life?

Sessions featuring leaders from Huntington Ingalls, Leidos, and ManTech will break down governance models, acquisition integration, and operating patterns—for scaled, secure identity delivery.

3. How are universities modernizing decades-old identity stacks?

Identity leaders from institutions, including Harvard, will discuss streamlining student experiences, securing research environments, and enabling responsible AI on campus.

4. How do you defend when attackers also have AI?

A panel of cybersecurity experts from AWS, Zscaler, and CrowdStrike will unpack identity-centric strategies, like continuous risk signals and phishing-resistant authentication, for an AI-powered threat landscape.

For more details on Oktane preview, click here.

Plus, the opening keynote by Okta CEO Todd McKinnon will frame identity as the connective security fabric bridging people, devices, apps, and AI, with product announcements you’ll want on your radar.

‍

What You Will Bring Back to Your Team

The Okta preview makes it clear what teams should expect to gain from these sessions:

A clear definition of an AI-ready identity

You’ll leave with a shared language and criteria: identity as a foundation for AI access, policy enforcement, governance, and risk measurement.

A “north-star” identity architecture

See how a unified identity layer secures human and non-human agents, applies adaptive policies, and integrates using open standards.

Scalable governance and change patterns

Learn rollout models, funding strategies, and phased deployments that work at scale—whether across agencies, campuses, or distributed teams.

The confidence to act

Backed by peer insights and real-world frameworks, you’ll leave with practical next steps tailored to your organization’s mission and risk profile.

‍

Step-by-Step Prep Guide for CIOs & CISOs

Step 1: Define Your Objectives Before You Go

Attending a three-day conference without a plan can leave you overwhelmed. Start with clarity:

CIOs → Focus on digital transformation, SaaS cost management, AI governance, and procurement efficiency. Ask: how can identity frameworks support innovation while reducing costs?
CISOs → Prioritize zero trust, privilege creep, invisible security, and AI-driven defense. Ask: how can identity help reduce risk from both insiders and shadow AI?

Document your top three questions or challenges before booking sessions. This way, every conversation and workshop is tied to a measurable outcome.

Step 2: Build a Smart Agenda

The Oktane attendee portal includes an agenda builder, a powerful tool to map sessions to your goals.

Key sessions CIOs and CISOs should watch for:

AI + Identity: Securing the Agent Era → How enterprises can govern AI tools through identity frameworks.
Zero Trust in Action → Real-world deployments and lessons from global enterprises.
Identity as a Shared Service for the Public Sector → Case studies on modernization at state and university levels.
Passwordless at Scale → Figma and Yubico’s journey toward seamless authentication.

Don’t overbook yourself. Aim for 2–3 sessions per day, leaving space for networking and expo hall meetings.

Step 3: Plan for Strategic Networking

Beyond sessions, the true value of Oktane lies in the hallway conversations and partner meetups. CIOs and CISOs should:

Schedule 1:1 meetings with vendors like CloudEagle, Okta, and Yubico in advance.
Connect with other enterprise leaders facing similar SaaS governance and AI challenges.
Attend evening sponsor events for informal discussions, often where the best insights surface.

As a co-sponsor, CloudEagle will be at the expo showcasing how enterprises can:

Discover and eliminate shadow IT.
Automate SaaS governance and license optimization.
Enforce AI governance policies across tools.

Step 4: Prepare for Governance Conversations

CIOs and CISOs know the stakes: enterprises are adopting AI faster than they can secure it, while SaaS sprawl continues to erode visibility and budgets. Expect Oktane 2025 to highlight:

Shadow AI & Governance → How to detect and control AI usage across departments.
Privilege Creep → Addressing risks where employees retain access they no longer need.
Compliance Automation → Moving beyond quarterly audits to continuous AI-driven monitoring.

Come prepared with your governance framework. What works today? Where are the blind spots? Use Oktane as a forum to pressure-test your strategy against peers.

Step 5: Manage the Logistics

To make your trip seamless:

Dates: September 24–26, 2025
Location: Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, NV
Format: In-person, three-day immersive event
Who should attend: CIOs, CISOs, IT/security teams, procurement, finance leaders, analysts, partners, and press

Pro tip: Download the Oktane app ahead of time. It’s your guide for session changes, speaker updates, and networking tools.

‍