If you’re anything like us, you love going to technology and cyber conferences. Expert forums, opportunities to test out emerging innovations, and opportunities to network with those in the industry are just a few reasons as to why attendees enjoy these events. It’s important for business and security executives who want to implement successful cybersecurity programmes to stay up to date on industry best practises and technologies. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best conferences to attend in 2021 from around the world. There’s bound to be an event on this list that fits your interests, regardless of your status or goals!
Despite the fact that COVID-19 has put an end to in-person industry conferences in most countries for the time being, the cybersecurity events calendar has remained impressively busy. Indoor events will almost certainly be among the last to return to normal once the Covid response-mandated restrictions in several countries are lifted. However, due to the widespread availability of vaccines, certain information security activities scheduled for the second half of 2021 will be held in person. If such plans are carried out or not, there may be no going back to the previous way things used to be.
It will be interesting to see how many formerly in-person events stick with the online model, follow a hybrid model where those who can’t participate can instead stream presentations, or dismiss the hybrid alternative altogether.
1. Infosecurity Europe
Where: Olympia, London
When: 8th-10th June 2021
The biggest cybersecurity conference in Europe is Infosecurity Europe. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the three-day festival. This year’s theme is “resilience.” Hours of information and cybersecurity content will provide attendees with realistic insight into governance, risk management, and compliance, identity and access control, data privacy, and threat intelligence.
It is the European marketplace for information security professionals to conduct business, learn about industry trends, and communicate with current and potential clients or suppliers. Exhibitors will present the most diverse selection of new products and services on the market at the show. In addition, an unrivalled complementary education network draws delegates from all over the world. It will provide you with business critical knowledge, best practise, and realistic case studies while addressing the most recent issues and needs.
2. 2021 National Cyber Summit
Where: Huntsville, AL
When: 8th-10th June 2021
The National Cyber Summit is a premier cyber security-technology event that provides industry visionaries and rising leaders with unique educational, collaborative, and workforce development opportunities.
The Summit gathers both government and business participants and is held in Huntsville, Alabama, one of the United States’ greatest technical hubs. Huntsville has long been renowned as the home of Department of Defense and civilian departments and agencies such as DHS, NIST, NASA, TVA, NSA, and DOE, but it also has a diverse range of companies. Healthcare, automotive, and energy industries, as well as academics, genetic research, and high technology, are all represented.
3. Hack In Paris
Where: Maison de la Chimie, Paris
When: 28th June – 2nd July
This event is for hands-on cybersecurity enthusiasts, and it includes realistic laboratories, seminars, and wargames where you can put your hacking skills to the test against your peers. Hands-on malware analysis and reverse engineering training with Amr Thabet, a vulnerability researcher at Tenable, are among the notable training sessions already reported.
4. Black Hat USA 2021
Where: Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas
When: 31st July- 5th August 2021
Black Hat USA, now in its 24th year, is hosting a unique hybrid event experience, giving the cybersecurity community the option of how they want to participate. Black Hat USA 2021 will kick off with four days of virtual training (July 31-August 3) that will be performed in real-time online with all instructors available at all times. The two-day main conference (August 4-5), which will include Briefings, Arsenal, Business Hall, and more, will be a hybrid event, including both an online (virtual) and a live, in-person event in Las Vegas.
These trainings, which are often only available during Black Hat, are given by professionals from around the world and provide opportunity for offensive and defensive hackers of all levels to gain firsthand technical skill-building.
5. DefCon 29
Where: Las Vegas Nevada
When: 5th-8th August 2021
DefCon is the oldest event on the list, having been hosted for the first time in 1993. It is a hands-on gathering for amateur and professional hackers. The identity of the 25,000 attendees are kept hidden, and the event features lock-picking contests, cypher challenges, and technical pranks in a competitive atmosphere. Even the conference badges are highly complicated electronic artefacts full of challenges, rather than basic laminated pieces of paper.
The badge challenge, which consists of many “sub-puzzles” placed around DEFCON, is one of the most popular cryptographic puzzle challenges at DefCon. Some tasks are classics that occur every year, while others are famously tough to solve.
6. Women in Cybersecurity
Where: Denver, Colorado
When: 8th-10th September 2021
This event honours women in academia, industry, and government who are leaders in the field of cybersecurity. It’s a fantastic project to increase diversity in the cybersecurity field, encourage female leaders, and help each other advance. There is a special emphasis on encouraging female students to enrol, with scholarships and other forms of support. The list of speakers hasn’t been released yet, but we’re expecting it to be fantastic! If you’re a woman in cyberspace, you should attend this event.
7. Cybersecurity & Cloud Expo Global 2021
Where: Business Design Centre, London
When: 6th – 7th September 2021
The Cyber Security & Cloud Expo event is co-located with the IoT Tech Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, and Blockchain Expo on the 6-7 September in the Business Design Centre, and virtually from the 13-15 September, so you can discover the future of these converging technologies under one roof.
As modern companies evolve, the conference agenda will address the genuine concerns that CISOs and security professionals face today. With an emphasis on collaboration and support for the security community, we’re displaying the most innovative and significant advances in the solutions industry. With a focus on learning and creating connections in the burgeoning cyber security and cloud arena, the conference will feature a series of top-level keynotes, interactive panel discussions, and solution-based case studies.
8. Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit
Where: Orlando, FL
When: 20th-22nd September 2021
The timetable and programme for 2021 are currently in the works. Gartner’s own summary of the 2021 event is as follows: Over the course of four days, leaders from security, identity and access management, and risk management joined Gartner experts digitally to provide vital ideas on developing an effective, risk-based cybersecurity programme. The conference will provide the tools needed to establish agile security and IT risk management plans in order to manage the risk that comes with digital companies and to be better prepared for the next global shock.
9. InfoSec World
Where: Disney Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Florida
When: 25th-27th October 2021
InfoSec World has been the “business of security” conference for the past 25 years. While the agenda has yet to be released, we have no doubt that the organisers will put together a fantastic lineup of speakers this year, as they always do. The InfoSec World conference is one of the world’s largest, bringing together information security professionals from all walks of life, industries, and fields of study – bringing together over 100 nations worldwide.
The conference this year will combine the best of both worlds, with both an in-person and a virtual component. If you can, we recommend going in person because you’ll be close enough to “breach” the Magic Kingdom main gate from the conference floor.
10. ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security
Where: Seoul, South Korea
When: 14th-19th November 2021
The flagship annual conference of the Association of Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Security, Audit, and Control (SIGSAC) is primarily focused on research. Researchers, practitioners, developers, and users from all around the world will gather at the conference to discuss cutting-edge ideas and outcomes. The conference holds a range of keynotes with expert speakers specialising in information security, along with a variety of workshops to get involved in during the event.
If you can’t wait for all of these events and are seeking a way to secure your organisation’s communications in the meantime, please contact us.
About Salt Communications
Salt Communications is a multi-award winning cyber security company providing a fully enterprise-managed software solution giving absolute privacy in mobile communications. It is easy to deploy and uses multi-layered encryption techniques to meet the highest of security standards. Salt Communications offers ‘Peace of Mind’ for Organisations who value their privacy, by giving them complete control and secure communications, to protect their trusted relationships and stay safe. Salt Communications is headquartered in Belfast, N. Ireland, for more information visit our website.
