A Cyber Odessey in Las Vegas

Ah, Las Vegas in the summer—a city where the glittering lights and relentless heat can melt even the most stoic poker face. This year, I found myself amidst the neon chaos, not for the high-stakes tables, but for a different kind of gamble: attending the B-SidesLV cybersecurity conference. In an almost poetic contrast, B-Sides was happening at the same time as the mammoth BlackHat conference.

Now, let's rewind a bit. Since retiring two years ago, I've embarked on a journey of learning, growth, and giving back. It's been quite a departure from my days as a cybersecurity executive. Back then, life was all about strategy, risk management, operations, and signing off on hefty technology budgets. These days, my principles have evolved into something a bit more...hippie, if you will. And I’m perfectly okay with that. Enter B-Sides—a grassroots, community-driven event that felt more in tune with my current quest for knowledge. Plus, the price was right: a $100 donation versus BlackHat’s eye-watering $2,400 registration fee. Seriously, you'd think they'd offer a senior citizens discount.

As I settled into the first presentation at B-Sides, my phone buzzed with a flurry of notifications. “Old friends connecting,” “Stop by and see what we’re selling,” and pictures of colleagues flaunting their hefty BlackHat badges. Those badges looked so heavy like they carried the weight of a thousand vendor pitches. It’s not that I dislike BlackHat—I’ve spent many years there, after all. But these days, I’m not in the market for big-ticket tech purchases. My interest now lies in understanding what the next generation of cyber practitioners is thinking, researching, and solving.

B-Sides did not disappoint. I heard fascinating pitches on the technological acceleration of disinformation, data and predictive analysis of the ephemeral nature of the internet, and the ingenious use of large language models (LLMs) for breaking BOLA (Broken Object Line Authorization) schemes. But my personal favorite was a session on how financial disclosures and cyber threat intelligence can inform investment decisions.

What struck me most was the vibe at B-Sides. No one was trying to sell anything. Instead, they shared ideas and concepts with an openness that was both refreshing and inspiring. The crowd was inclusive, supportive, and genuinely interested in nurturing innovation. It felt like a think tank where every idea, no matter how outlandish, was given a chance to bloom.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but think of the simultaneous goings-on at BlackHat. I pictured the bustling expo floor, the glitzy booths, and the endless stream of business cards exchanging hands. Both conferences have their place and their audience. But for me, this year, B-Sides was the perfect fit.

As the final session wrapped up and I returned to the hotel, I reflected on the experience. Whether at B-Sides or BlackHat, the goal is the same: to learn something new and have meaningful conversations. And here's a tip from an old guy: you don’t need to attend a conference to catch up with old friends or make new ones. Sometimes, the best connections happen in the most unexpected places.

So, as the Las Vegas lights faded in my rearview mirror, I felt a sense of satisfaction. B-Sides had given me more than just new insights; it had renewed my passion for the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity. And that, my friends, is worth more than the priciest conference badge.

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