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AI in Security Operations: Hype, Help, and Hazards
How is AI being used to help Security Operations teams? What works and where does AI still fall short? Join us for a grounded, practical look at how AI is changing security operations without replacing the people behind them. This talk focuses on the Microsoft platform as many universities have E5 licensing which includes the Microsoft security suite but the takeaways will be applicable to any security operations team utilizing LLMs in their workflows.
Key takeaways include:
How Copilot is triaging alerts in Microsoft Sentinel & Defender XDR
Speeding up root cause analysis and automating common security tasks
Real examples from higher ed environments
Where AI fails: hallucinations, false positives, and context loss
Why human validation still matters—and how to build trust in AI
A readiness checklist and rollout path for security teams
Common pitfalls in implementation and change management
Whether you're already experimenting or just AI-curious, this session will give you the clarity and next steps you need.
Micah Heaton is an award-winning Microsoft Security strategist and Executive Director of the Microsoft Security Center of Excellence at BlueVoyant. A recognized thought leader in enterprise cybersecurity, Micah spearheads the development of AI-enhanced, Microsoft-first security architectures that integrate Defender, Sentinel, Intune, and Microsoft Security Copilot across Fortune 500 and public sector environments.
In 2025, Micah was named the global Security Changemaker by the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA)—the only individual to receive this prestigious award that year. The recognition honors his pioneering work advancing inclusive, resilience-driven security programs, most notably BlueVoyant’s no-cost Security Diagnostics initiative, which helps under-resourced security teams assess and improve their defenses using Microsoft tools.
Widely regarded as a trusted voice in the Microsoft security ecosystem, Micah is both a sought-after speaker and accomplished author. He frequently shares insights on AI, threat detection, and enterprise resilience through appearances on Microsoft platforms—including the Microsoft Partner Showcase—and leading industry podcasts such as The Microsoft Security Insights Show. He also co-authored Microsoft Cloud Security for Dummies, a widely adopted guide for IT professionals securing Microsoft environments. His thought leadership reflects deep technical expertise, backed by advanced certifications in Azure Security Engineer and Microsoft 365 Security Administrator.
Beyond his professional achievements, Micah is a dedicated parent and community advocate, blending technical depth with a human-centered approach to cybersecurity, grounded in authenticity and trust.
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