Redefining the Network for the AI Era: From Legacy Branches to Digital Cafés – Main Stage Keynote
The enterprise network was designed for a world that no longer exists—a world of static branches, centralized apps, and rigid perimeters. But in the age of AI and hybrid work, organizations are reimagining how people, devices, and data connect. In this keynote, Jay Chaudhry, Founder and CEO of Zscaler, will explore how leading enterprises are replacing outdated network and security models with agile, cloud-native zero trust architectures that enable “café-like” branch experiences—simple, fast, secure, and cost-efficient.
Drawing on real-world transformation stories, Jay will outline how a cafe-like approach to branches is eliminating the complexity of MPLS and firewalls, accelerating AI-driven decision-making, and delivering tangible savings while future-proofing the network for continuous innovation.
Jay is an accomplished entrepreneur, having founded a series of successful companies, including AirDefense, CipherTrust, CoreHarbor, SecureIT, and Zscaler, now a public company as of March 16, 2018.
Jay has a history of introducing visionary innovations to market that address the demand for securely enabling emerging technology trends, such as the Zscaler global security cloud for distributed and mobile enterprises. Jay’s considerable work in the security technology sector has made him a trusted advisor for many enterprise CIOs and CISOs.
Jay leverages more than 25 years of security industry expertise, including engineering, sales, marketing, and management experience with leading organizations, such as IBM, NCR, and Unisys. Prior to founding Zscaler in 2008, he founded and led AirDefense, a wireless security pioneer, before its acquisition by Motorola. From 2000 to 2006, Jay founded and led CipherTrust, the industry’s first email security gateway, before its merger with Secure Computing. He also founded and led CoreHarbor, a managed ecommerce solution, before it was acquired by USi/AT&T. In 1996, Jay founded and led his first company, SecureIT, the first pure-play internet security service, before it was acquired by VeriSign in 1998.
Jay has been honored as an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year (Southeast USA),” an Information Week “Innovator & Influencer,” an SC Magazine “Market Entrepreneur,” an IIT BHU “Distinguished Alumnus,” and a Goldman Sachs “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.” He earned his MBA in Marketing, MS in Computer Engineering, and MS in Industrial Engineering—all from the University of Cincinnati. He earned his Bachelor of Technology in Electronics Engineering from IIT BHU Varanasi. Jay has completed the Executive Management Program from Harvard Business School.
