Welcome to this week’s edition of CIOsurge!

This week:

• Oracle confirms a legacy cloud breach impacting identity and patient data, raising questions about vendor transparency and trust.

• CIOs report higher-than-expected cloud spend, but most still see net business value—emphasizing the need for clearer ROI metrics.

• Mountain America Credit Union and ENT and Allergy Associates appoint new technology leaders to drive digital transformation.

Let’s make this week a game-changer.

Stay sharp. Stay ahead.

🔐 Oracle breach raises cloud trust questions amid legacy system hack

Oracle privately confirmed a breach in its legacy Cloud Classic infrastructure, admitting attackers exfiltrated credentials and identity data dating back to 2017—though leaked records appear to include 2024 and 2025 data. Oracle maintains that current Oracle Cloud was not affected, but evidence shared by threat actors and verified by customers suggests a deeper compromise, including patient data from Oracle Health.

Incidents like this highlight the dangers of legacy system sprawl and inconsistent transparency. Even if Oracle’s “not Oracle Cloud” defense is technically true, it’s Oracle-managed infrastructure that enterprise customers trusted—and that's what matters. Trust isn't built on brand segmentation; it's built on accountability.

For CIOs, this is a reminder that legacy environments, even if rarely touched, remain part of the attack surface. If they’re not actively monitored, patched, or decommissioned, they’re liabilities. We need to ensure vendors are being held to the same standards we apply internally, especially when sensitive identity or health data is involved.

 - Zack Tembi

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🌩️ CIOs navigate rising cloud costs while justifying ROI

Azul’s latest survey of 300 CIOs reveals a paradox: cloud spending is 30% higher than expected for most enterprises, yet 80% still report net cost savings and business value. Despite pressure to optimize, cloud adoption continues to grow, fueled by agility and scalability—even as concerns mount over budget overruns and the limits of unchecked expansion.

We’ve all seen it—cloud bills creeping higher each quarter, even with FinOps in place. But the truth is, cost alone doesn’t tell the full story. If that spend is tied to meaningful business outcomes—like faster deployment, greater agility, or increased revenue—it can be justified. The key is proving that connection with real data, not just gut feel.

This is why FinOps isn’t about cutting—it’s about clarity. We need to measure what workloads are delivering, and where efficiency gains are possible without compromising innovation. If we want to keep our CEOs and boards bought in, we can’t just track spend—we have to tie every cloud dollar to business impact. That’s the only way to manage growth without losing trust.

- Zack Tembi

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💬 Zack's Take

🧠 AI as a Tool for Efficiency and Innovation

AI is really changing the game—but not in the way some people think. You don’t need to spend millions on a massive AI system to see results. The real value comes from using AI strategically, within your existing budget, to make everyday operations more efficient. When used with intention, even lightweight implementations can unlock massive gains in productivity and cost savings.

It’s a bit like the raccoon-in-the-oil-pipe story—sometimes your biggest problems are buried deep where no one’s looking. AI helps shine a light on those hidden inefficiencies, revealing slowdowns, redundancies, or resource drains that you might otherwise miss. Whether it’s analyzing data flow or automating routine checks, AI gives you a clearer view of what’s actually happening in your environment.

At Single Fin, we don’t just preach it—we use it. We’ve integrated AI into key areas of our workflows to eliminate manual effort and free up our team to focus on high-value work. It’s not about replacing people; it’s about building smarter processes that help us and our clients innovate faster, adapt quicker, and stay ahead of whatever’s coming next.

🗞️ At A Glance

CIOs cull internal generative AI projects as vendor spending soars

Google rolls out easy end-to-end encryption for Gmail business users

Check Point Software confirms security incident but pushes back on threat actor claims

Cybersecurity Vendor Funding in Q1 2025: Increase in Deals and Acquisitions as Investment Stabilizes

Trump tariffs mean costlier servers, say system builders

New Windows 11 trick lets you bypass Microsoft Account requirement

VMware feuds with Siemens in legal battle over software licensing

💡 CIO Spotlights

Mountain America elevates Kelly Albiston to CTO to drive digital banking

• Kelly Albiston has been promoted to EVP and CTO at Mountain America Credit Union, where he’ll lead the credit union’s digital innovation strategy.

• Albiston previously led digital solutions at the credit union and brings fintech expertise from roles in both startups and advisory boards.

• CEO Sterling Nielsen praised Albiston’s vision for advancing seamless, member-centric banking experiences.
  

  Read the full story

Erin Osbourn to lead tech-driven care as ENTA’s new CIO

• Erin Osbourn joins ENT and Allergy Associates as CIO, bringing 20+ years of healthcare IT experience, including her recent role at the Child Mind Institute.

• She’ll lead ENTA’s push into AI, automation, and digital optimization to enhance care delivery and streamline operations.

• CEO Daniel Blum says Osbourn’s leadership will be key as ENTA expands beyond its tri-state footprint.
  

  Read the full story

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