52 of the Best Cybersecurity Conferences to Attend in 2021

For business and security leaders working to drive effective cybersecurity programs, it’s important to keep up with industry best practices and technology. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the 52 best conferences across the globe to attend in 2021. Regardless of your position or goals, there’s sure to be an event on this list that suits your interests!

We didn’t rank these conferences, but they are listed chronologically for easier browsing. Some conferences (listed at the bottom) haven’t announced a date or location at the time of publication, so be sure to keep checking their official sites for updates.

1. FloCon

• Date: January 11-14, 2021
• Location: Virtual
• Description: FloCon provides a forum for exploring large-scale, next-generation data analytics in support of cybersecurity operations. FloCon is geared toward operational analysts, tool developers, researchers, security professionals, and others interested in applying cutting-edge techniques to analyze and visualize large datasets to protect and defend networked systems.

2. International Cybersecurity Forum (FIC)

• Date: January 19-21, 2021
• Location: Lille, France
• Description: The 2021 edition of the FIC will feature the theme of “collaborative and cooperative cybersecurity.”

3. SANS Cyber Threat Intelligence Summit

• Date: January 21-22, 2021
• Location: Virtual
• Description: The collection, classification, and exploitation of knowledge about adversaries—collectively known as cyber threat intelligence (CTI)—gives security practitioners information superiority that is used to reduce an adversary’s likelihood of success. Responders and defenders leverage accurate, timely, and detailed threat intelligence to monitor new and evolving attacks and subsequently adapt their security posture.

4. MENA Cyber Security for Critical Assets Conference

• Date: February 1-2, 2021
• Location: Dubai, UAE
• Description: While geopolitics shape the security outlook of the region, the growing appetite for IIoT presents a complex risk environment for stakeholders. This has caused the security of industrial operations to take center stage in the C-suite. With this in mind, the 2021 conference agenda focuses on cracking the code of security in OT environments. This includes addressing the cybersecurity concerns of IIoT as well as providing tools for IT/OT integrated strategies.

5. Hack in Paris

• Date: February 15-19, 2021
• Location: Paris, France
• Description: Hack in Paris is a steadily growing event, gathering IT security experts in the French capital each year. The conference offers a 5-day high-quality program dealing with high-end IT security, industrial espionage, penetration testing, physical security, forensics, malware analysis techniques, and countermeasures.

6. West 2021

• Date: February 16-18, 2021
• Location: San Diego, CA
• Description: Learn and network while exploring and experiencing the latest platforms, leading-edge technologies, and state-of-the-art networking capabilities that support the Sea Services’ operations.

7. Global Appsec

• Date: February 18-19, 2021
• Location: Dublin, Ireland
• Description: The Global AppSec Conference is the premier application security conference for developers and security experts. Designed for private and public sector infosec professionals, the OWASP three-day training and two-day conference equips developers, defenders, and advocates to build a more secure web.

8. Gartner Data & Analytics Summit

• Date: February 22-23, 2021
• Location: Sydney, Australia
• Description: New business models and sweeping technology change, including AI, are driving the need for a data and analytics-centric culture. Leaders must evolve their organizational culture by design to support and foster the creativity necessary to survive and thrive in these times of change.

9. CyberCon

• Date: March 9, 2021
• Location: London, UK
• Description: Unlike countless other cybersecurity conferences, CyberCon London is the most progressive event of its kind, allowing UK business leaders the opportunity to gain exclusive first-hand knowledge of new and emerging online threats and learn the latest response strategies and solutions through immersive and interactive real-case scenarios.

10.Cyber Security and Cloud Expo

• Date: March 17-18, 2021
• Location: London, UK
• Description: Presented in a series of top-level keynotes, interactive panel discussions, and solution-based case studies, the Cyber Security & Cloud Expo will explore the industries currently undergoing, and set to undergo, major disruption.

11. Cloud and Cyber Security Expo

• Date: March 24-25, 2021
• Location: London, UK
• Description: Cloud and Cyber Security Expo delivers an inspirational conference program from sector experts and offers sponsors, exhibitors & visitors two unmissable days of free education, networking, lead generation, and industry insight. The event offers suppliers an unparalleled marketing opportunity to secure contacts, customers, and partners.

12. WiCyS

• Date: March 25-27, 2021
• Location: Aurora, CO
• Description: WiCyS is the premier event to RECRUIT, RETAIN and ADVANCE women in cybersecurity. WiCyS brings together women in cybersecurity from academia, research, government, and industry. Beyond the annual conference, WiCyS is a community of ENGAGEMENT, ENCOURAGEMENT, and SUPPORT for women in cybersecurity.

13. Third-Party & Supply Chain Cyber Security Summit

• Date: April 15-16, 2021
• Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Description: Learn the best case studies on end-to-end cybersecurity implementation practices when working with third parties to ensure a truly resilient and secure supply chain network at the 5th Annual Third-Party & Supply Chain Cyber Security Summit.

14. KB4-CON

• Date: April 18-20, 2021
• Location: Orlando, FL
• Description: Our user conference is ideal for CISOs, security awareness training administrators, and other InfoSec professionals. During these trying times, many of our customers are working remotely or are putting plans in place to support remote employees. We are streamlining our agenda to bring you the most useful information to help you keep your workforce secure, along with tools for protecting your organization from the bad guys.

15. IoTDBS

• Date: April 23-25, 2021
• Location: Prague, Czech Republic
• Description: The conference looks to address the issues surrounding IoT devices, their interconnectedness, and services they may offer. This includes efficient, effective, and secure analysis of the data IoT produces using machine learning and other advanced techniques, models, and tools, as well as issues of security, privacy, and trust that will emerge as IoT technologies mature and become part of our everyday lives.

16. CODASPY

• Date: April 26-28, 2021
• Location: Virtual
• Description: Security concerns have rapidly moved up the software stack as the internet and web have matured. This conference provides a dedicated venue for high-quality research in this arena and seeks to foster a community with this focus in cybersecurity.

17. IAPP Global Privacy Summit

• Date: April 27-28, 2021
• Location: Washington, DC
• Description: The world’s premier privacy and data protection conference focuses on international topics, policy, and strategy. Recognized as a leading forum for discussion, the Summit features expert speakers and top regulators and delivers unmatched education and networking opportunities.

18. Tech Talk Live

• Date: May 3-5, 2021
• Location: Lancaster, PA
• Description: Tech Talk Live is Pennsylvania’s only technology conference that focuses on the day-to-day issues that technology professionals face in the educational environment. While other conferences might have strands for IT professionals, this conference’s main focus is IT professionals who support education.

19. Secure360

• Date: May 11-12, 2021
• Location: Prior Lake, MN
• Description: Whether we like it or not, our world is changing. As industries continue to mature and develop, we have a responsibility to keep up and keep our world secure. We must ask ourselves to identify the changes we’re seeing and define our responsibility. Everyone has a unique role in a world that continues to change – what is yours?

20. CYBERUK

• Date: May 11-12, 2021
• Location: Newport, Wales, UK
• Description: Attended by over 2,500 delegates, CYBERUK is the authoritative event for the UK’s cybersecurity community. It demonstrates what we can do together as teams, as departments and as organizations to deliver a digital United Kingdom that leads the world in cyber resilience.

21. THOTCON

• Date: May 14-15, 2021
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Description: THOTCON is a hacking conference based in Chicago. Once you attend a THOTCON event, you will have experienced one of the best information security conferences in the world, combined with a uniquely casual and social experience. This is a non-profit, non-commercial event looking to provide the best conference possible on a limited budget.

22. RSA

• Date: May 17-20, 2021
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Description: This year, the theme is resilience. We chose it because resilience is a quality that lives in all of us. It’s what drives us to continue the fight, to search for new solutions, and adapt to new realities.

23. NolaCon

• Date: May 21-23, 2021
• Location: New Orleans, LA
• Description: NolaCon is an information security/hacker conference for professionals and enthusiasts alike located in New Orleans, offering training as well as interesting and inventive talks and workshops.

24. IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy

• Date: May 23-27, 2021
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Description: Since 1980, the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy has been the premier forum for presenting developments in computer security and electronic privacy, and for bringing together researchers and practitioners in the field. The 2021 Symposium will mark the 42nd annual meeting of this flagship conference.

25. FIRST Conference

• Date: June 6-11, 2021
• Location: Fukuoka, Japan
• Description: The annual conference is a 4-5 day global event that focuses on the issues of incident response and security teams, and brings together incident response and security professionals from around the world who share their experiences and expertise.

26. GovSummit

• Date: June 8-9, 2021
• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Description: GovSummit—the government security conference hosted annually by the Security Industry Association—brings together government security leaders with private industry technologists for top-quality information sharing and education on security topics affecting federal, state, and even local agencies.

27. National Cyber Summit

• Date: June 8-10, 2021
• Location: Huntsville, AL
• Description: National Cyber Summit is the nation’s most innovative cyber security-technology event, offering unique educational, collaborative and workforce development opportunities for industry visionaries and rising leaders.

28. Infosecurity Europe

• Date: June 8-10, 2021
• Location: London, UK
• Description: Whether you’re attending our CISO Insights, Information Security Exchange, Technology Showcase or Keynote Sessions, there’s something in Infosecurity Online’s conference schedule to suit every infosec professional. If you’re looking to get expert insights to enhance your cybersecurity strategy, this is the online event for you.

29. Regulatory Compliance Conference

• Date: June 13-16, 2021
• Location: San Diego, CA
• Description: Your one-stop shop to discuss today’s—and tomorrow’s—most pressing issues in compliance with the nation’s top risk-based thinkers. Talk with leading experts, banking peers and Washington insiders for up-to-the-minute information to enhance and strengthen your compliance program.

30. International Conference on Cyber Security

• Date: July 19-22, 2021
• Location: New York, NY
• Description: ICCS is the premier global cybersecurity event spanning three days with more than 60 distinguished speakers from government, the private sector, and academia. It is an unparalleled opportunity for global leaders in cyber threat analysis, operations, research, and law enforcement to coordinate and share their efforts to create a more secure world.

31. Black Hat USA

• Date: July 31-August 5, 2021
• Location: Las Vegas, NV
• Description: Black Hat is the most technical and relevant information security event series in the world. For more than 20 years, Black Hat Briefings have provided attendees with the very latest in information security research, development, and trends in a strictly vendor-neutral environment.

32. Community College Cyber Summit (3CS)

• Date: August 2-5, 2021
• Location: Dayton, OH
• Description: 3CS is the only national academic conference focused on cybersecurity education at community colleges. The outcomes of 3CS leverage community college cybersecurity programs across the nation by introducing the latest technologies, best practices, curricula, products, and more.

33. The Diana Initiative

• Date: August 4-5, 2021
• Location: Las Vegas, NV
• Description: A conference focused on women, diversity, and inclusion in information security that embraces all genders, sexualities, and skill levels. The Diana Initiative features multiple speaker tracks, fully expanded villages with hands-on workshops, and a women-led Capture the Flag event.

34. DEF CON 29

• Date: August 5-8, 2021
• Location: Las Vegas, NV
• Description: DEF CON is one of the oldest continuously running hacker conventions around, and also one of the largest.

35. USENIX Security

• Date: August 11-13, 2021
• Location: Vancouver, B.C.
• Description: Please join us in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, for the 30th USENIX Security Symposium. USENIX Security brings together researchers, practitioners, system administrators, system programmers, and others to share and explore the latest advances in the security and privacy of computer systems and networks.

36. Blue Team Con

• Date: August 28-29, 2021
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Description: Blue Team Con is an information security conference tailored for those that are performing blue team-type work at organizations. This means the defenders of enterprises but also extends to the practitioners doing governance, risk, compliance, application security development, and more.

37. Cyber Defense Summit

• Date: October 4-8, 2021
• Location: TBD
• Description: Cyber Defense Summit brings together many of the world’s leading security experts, frontline heroes, government leaders, and executives from various industries to address the challenges of today’s threat landscape.

38. API Cybersecurity Conference For The Oil & Natural Gas Industry

• Date: November 9-10, 2021
• Location: The Woodlands, TX
• Description: Join us at the 14th Annual API Cybersecurity Conference & Expo and discover methods for thwarting the bad guys, what the scene looks like over the horizon and how the latest technologies can help you counter cyber espionage, address cyber warfare, and make your cyber efforts secure.

39. SecureWorld

• Date: Multiple dates
• Location: Multiple locations
• Description: Join your fellow security professionals for affordable, high-quality cybersecurity training and education. Attend featured keynote presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions—all while networking with local peers.

40. Techno Security & Digital Forensics Conference

• Date: Multiple dates
• Location: Multiple locations
• Description: Techno Security & Digital Forensics Conference provides a unique education experience that blends together the digital forensics and cybersecurity industries for collaboration between government and private sectors. The purpose is to raise international awareness of developments, teaching, training, responsibilities, and ethics in the field of IT security and digital forensics.

41. FutureCon 2021

• Date: Multiple dates
• Location: Multiple locations
• Description: Gain the latest knowledge you need to enable applications while keeping your computing environment secure from advanced cyber threats. Demo the newest technology, interact with the world’s security leaders, and learn about other pressing topics of interest to the information security community.

42. ManuSec

• Date: TBD
• Location: Munich, Germany
• Description: ManuSec Europe is an intimate and exclusive platform for IT and OT security leaders from Europe’s manufacturing industry to exchange in-depth cybersecurity knowledge. Senior cybersecurity professionals share first-hand insights through real-life case studies, panel debates, and keynote presentations while bringing forth questions and challenges to be discussed over roundtables and dynamic networking breaks.

43. H-ISAC Summit

• Date: Multiple dates
• Location: Multiple locations
• Description: Health-ISAC’s mission is to enable and preserve the global public trust by advancing health-sector cyber and physical resilience and the ability to prepare for and respond to cyber and physical threats and vulnerabilities.

44. RDAAPS

• Date: TBD
• Location: Hamilton, Ontario
• Description: The Reconciling Data Analytics, Automation, Privacy, and Security (RDAAPS) conference serves as a premier forum for advancing the state of the art in the intersection of the areas of big data analytics and decision making.

45. leHACK

• Date: TBD
• Location: Paris, France
• Description: “La leHACK” is one of the oldest French underground hackers’ events which brings together professionals and amateurs of any skill level around lectures and challenges. Regardless of their skill, guests come to see and talk about the latest advances in IT Security to assess and improve their level.

46. BSides

• Date: Multiple dates
• Location: Multiple locations
• Description: The goal of BSides is to offer small, intimate events where all participants can engage each other to help develop connections, friendships, and network with different industry professionals. Every organization will have different goals and priorities, which is why we offer different levels of participation for every individual, group, or organization.

47. Cybertech

• Date: Multiple dates
• Location: Multiple locations
• Description: Cybertech events feature top executives, government officials, and leading decision-makers from a wide range of sectors including critical infrastructure, insurance, retail, health and government, defense, R&D, manufacturing, automotive, and more!

48. GISEC

• Date: TBD
• Location: Dubai, UAE
• Description: The Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference (GISEC) brings together over 7,000 top security professionals to discover cutting-edge solutions, share insights with industry experts and equip themselves with the right tools to protect their businesses from rapidly-evolving cyber attackers.

49. AWS re:Inforce

• Date: TBD
• Location: TBD
• Description: A learning conference focused on cloud security, identity, and compliance. AWS re:Inforce includes hundreds of technical sessions, a keynote featuring AWS security leadership, and access to cloud security experts in the Security Learning Hub (our Expo experience).

50. GrrCon

• Date: TBD
• Location: TBD
• Description: GrrCON is an information security and hacking conference that provides the Midwest InfoSec community with a fun atmosphere to come together and engage with like-minded people.

51. GovWare Focus

• Date: TBD
• Location: TBD
• Description: Elevate your professional growth with insight and practical knowledge from 100+ cybersecurity thought leaders, senior officials and policy makers.

52. Cybersecurity and Risk Summit

• Date: TBD
• Location: Multiple locations
• Description: Through our global summits and digital content, Mastercard provides the latest insights, data and cutting-edge resources to help organizations and industry professionals mitigate risk and optimize performance.