What is a BSides Conference?

A short guide to community-run information security events worldwide.

BSides — also written as Security BSides — is a worldwide series of grassroots information security conferences run entirely by local volunteer organizers. Each event is small, low-cost, and focused on the people actually doing the work: researchers sharing findings, practitioners swapping war stories, first-time speakers getting their start. There are now more than 200 BSides chapters across six continents, each organizing its own editions independently under the shared Security BSides name.

How BSides Differs From DEF CON, Black Hat, and RSA

Most people new to infosec conferences only know the big three: DEF CON, Black Hat, and RSA. BSides fills a different niche.

DEF CON is the Las Vegas hacker-culture mega-event — tens of thousands of attendees, chaotic energy, villages for every subfield, and tickets bought in cash at the door. BSides is smaller and quieter, often running in the days before or alongside DEF CON and other majors.

Black Hat is corporate training with a conference attached — multi-thousand-dollar tickets, four-day paid courses, enterprise vendors, and an acceptance process that favours polished research from established names. BSides was explicitly founded to accept the speakers and topics Black Hat turned away.

RSA Conference is the industry trade show — thirty thousand attendees, hundreds of sponsors, keynotes about "the future of cybersecurity" from Fortune 500 CISOs. BSides is the opposite of RSA in temperament: tactical, grassroots, non-commercial.

Format and What to Expect

A typical BSides runs one or two days with 50-500 attendees. Tickets are usually free or under $50 — some chapters charge enough to cover venue and swag, most don't. The programme mixes:

• Talks — 20 to 45 minutes each, often with a first-timer track dedicated to newer speakers.
• Workshops — hands-on sessions covering tools, techniques, and labs; usually a small extra signup.
• CTFs — capture-the-flag competitions, sometimes running the whole event.
• Villages — focused spaces (lockpick, hardware, car hacking, AI/ML) where people demonstrate skills informally.
• Hallway track — the real event. BSides optimises for people meeting and talking, not stage polish.

Most chapters record talks and publish them afterwards. Our archive of recorded BSides talks lets you filter by chapter, speaker, or year.

Who Goes to BSides Events

BSides draws a different crowd than enterprise conferences. Expect security researchers publishing new techniques, consultants between engagements, corporate defenders looking for practical tradecraft, students exploring the field, and hobbyists who keep security as a passion project. Because tickets are cheap and acceptance is welcoming, first-time attendees and speakers are explicitly part of the design — if you've been waiting for the "right" moment to try a conference, BSides is where most people in infosec started.

How to Get Involved

There are four ways in:

• Attend — most events open registration four to eight weeks before the date. Browse upcoming events and register on the chapter's own site.
• Speak — every BSides runs a Call for Papers, usually two to four months before the event. Acceptance rates are higher than the majors, especially for new speakers. Our CFP submission guide covers how to write a proposal that lands, and keeps a live list of open CFPs.
• Sponsor — sponsorship tiers at BSides chapters are affordable compared to larger events. If you run a small security shop and want to support the community, this is a meaningful way to do it.
• Volunteer — every chapter relies on local volunteers. Contact the organisers directly through their chapter website if you want to help run the event.

A Brief History

BSides started in 2009 after a group of security researchers had their talks rejected by Black Hat. Rather than let the research sit unheard, they organised an alternative event alongside Black Hat Las Vegas. The idea — a community conference that accepted work the big events wouldn't — resonated, and the first BSides was quickly followed by BSides San Francisco, BSides Austin, and others. Today there are active chapters in more than 70 countries, each running editions independently under the shared Security BSides name. Browse recorded talks from past events to see how the conversation has evolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a BSides event?

A BSides event is a community-run information security conference, typically one or two days long, with a mix of talks, workshops, CTFs, and villages. Tickets are usually free or under $50. BSides events are organised locally by volunteers under the shared Security BSides name, with more than 200 chapters worldwide.

Who started BSides?

BSides was started in 2009 by a group of information security researchers — including Mike Dahn, Jack Daniel, and Chris Nickerson — whose talks were rejected by Black Hat Las Vegas. They organised an alternative event that accepted the work larger conferences wouldn't, and the format spread from there to hundreds of cities worldwide.

Is BSides worth attending?

Yes, especially if you're new to infosec conferences or want a less overwhelming alternative to DEF CON or Black Hat. BSides events are cheap (usually free to $50), small enough that you'll actually meet people, and deliberately welcoming to first-timers. The hallway conversations alone are worth the trip for most attendees.

Find a BSides Event Near You

Our index tracks every BSides event we can find — upcoming, past, and those currently running their CFPs. Browse all events on the home page, or jump straight to the open CFPs if you're ready to submit a talk.

For the canonical directory maintained by the original Security BSides organisation, see www.bsides.org.