The budget has been approved, the hotel is booked, the event lanyard is printed and ready to adorn your neck. That’s right, it’s cybersecurity conference time!
When business and security leaders want to stay up to date on industry best practices and technology—while also seeing what their peers and competitors are up to—cybersecurity conferences can be invaluable. Whether you’re attending keynotes and demos, or networking events and roundtables, there’s a lot going on. And we haven’t even mentioned all that merch.
So that you can prioritize which conferences to attend and how to get the most out of your and your organization’s time, we’ve put together this list of the best 2023 cybersecurity conferences around the world.
These conferences 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 check their official sites for updates.
4 Tips for getting the most out of a cybersecurity conference
If you plan on attending any of these conferences, or all of them if you want to get the airline miles, here are a few tips so you can maximize your experience:
Tip 1: Communicate
Send out an email before you arrive to let colleagues, vendors, clients, and other contacts know that you’ll be there. This could have a huge impact on professional relationships going forward.
Tip 2: Engage in events
Engage with sessions and events that interest you. The more inspired you are, the more likely you are to remember the experience and retain the information. To really make things stick, write down a few overarching points.
Tip 3: Prioritize meetings
Prioritize in-person meetings and interactions while you’re there. Yes, this might mean putting away your phone for a few minutes; don’t worry, people won’t notice the cold sweats. But you’re in this conference hall for a reason–enjoy it!
Tip 4: Enjoy yourself
Relax and hydrate! It may sound obvious, but these events are often all-day affairs. Remember to drink water, bring some snacks with you, and go back to your room and kick back between sessions if you need to.
A number of these events offer a virtual or hybrid experience as well, so if you’re unable to make it to Las Vegas, for instance, you may still be able to attend remotely (your wallet will thank you). But if you are planning on attending a conference, many of these are happening in-person for the first time after a few years, as people are just starting to get comfortable traveling again. Shaking hands, greeting colleagues, and doing pretty much anything face-to-face may be a little awkward, so be patient with your fellow conference-goers as everyone figures out their level of comfort.
Final tip? Don’t pack too many clothes–with all the branded T-shirts, hats, and hand sanitizer, by the time the conference is over you’ll have basically doubled your earthly possessions.
Top 40 cybersecurity conferences to attend in 2023
Cybersecurity conferences can be an invaluable resource for not only cybersecurity professionals, but anyone interested in improving their organization’s security posture or expanding their education. Here are the top cybersecurity conferences you should consider attending in 2023.
1. Zero Trust World (ThreatLocker)
Date: February 1-3, 2023
Location: Champions Gate, Florida USA
This two-and-a-half-day event will provide hands-on exercises, live hacking demonstrations, and valuable insights into how you can become an even more successful IT professional.
2. ENISA Annual Conference
Date: February 7, 2023
Location: Brussels, Belgium
For the 7th time, the European Standards Organisations (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) are joining forces with ENISA, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity. The goal is to foster dialogue among policy makers and industry–as well as research and standardization organizations–to effectively implement the EU cybersecurity legislation.
3. CISO Sydney
Date: February 20-22, 2023
Location: Sydney, Australia
CISO Sydney 2023 features cybersecurity experts discussing the strategies they’re implementing to protect their organizations while breaking through the challenges of security in technological development.
4. Gartner Security & Risk Management Dubai
Date: February 27-28, 2023
Location: Dubai, UAE
This conference features Gartner experts offering their insights into topics such as cybersecurity architectures, safeguarding your organization, establishing an agile security program, and delivering greater business value.
5. Cloud & Cyber Security Expo
Date: March 8th & 9th, 2023
Location: London, UK
The Cloud & Cyber Security Expo offers two days of free education, networking, lead generation, and industry insights. In 2022, London Mayor Sadiq Kahn delivered a message to the conference, and Google’s Lead Security Engineer presented a keynote on innovative cyber security approaches. Each year includes interactive panel discussions, keynote speakers, and prominent CISOs from the public and private sectors.
6. ICCWS
Date: March 9-10, 2023
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
The International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (ICCWS) has become an important conference in the field of cybersecurity, especially for military professionals and academics. This conference is an opportunity for practitioners and researchers to present their papers and findings with the community, while also networking with peers. Over the years the Conference has been attended by a variety of security and military organizations including the Cyber Security Policy Research Institute and NATO.
7. GISEC
Date: March 14-16, 2023
Location: Dubai, UAE
GISEC Global has turned out to be a key cybersecurity conference, where leaders and CISOs from major corporations across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa share ideas on how to improve cybersecurity strategy across sectors and nations.
8. WiCyS
Date: March 16-18, 2023
Location: Denver, Colorado USA
WiCyS bills itself as 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.
9. IT & CyberSecurity Meetings
Date: March 21-23, 2023
Location: Cannes, France
IT & CyberSecurity Meetings emphasizes face-to-face interactions between top decision makers and exhibitors through meetings organized prior to the event in a relaxed and warm atmosphere.
10. SANS Institute Cybersecurity Training Event
Date: April 2-7, 2023
Location: Orlando, Florida, USA
SANS 2023 offers the chance to learn real-world cyber security skills from top industry experts. This conference offers interactive training with hands-on labs and a chance to practice your skills during one of the NetWars Tournaments, as well as the chance to network with your peers in real time.
11. FIC 2023
Date: April 5-7, 2023
Location: Paris, France
The International Cybersecurity Forum is the main European event on issues of digital security and trust. It brings together the cybersecurity and “digital trust” ecosystem: end customers, service providers, solution publishers, consultants, and law enforcement and state agencies, as well as schools and universities. Their mission is to face the operational challenges of cybersecurity while contributing to the construction of a digital future in line with European values and interests.
12. HIMSS
Date: April 17-21, 2023
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Global Health Conference & Exhibition hosts tens of thousands of professionals throughout the global health ecosystem. The purpose of this conference is to address the field of digital healthcare.
13. RSAConference
Date: April 24-27, 2023
Location: San Francisco, California USA
The RSA Conference has been a staple in the world of cybersecurity. Cybersecurity professionals and leaders from around the world converge on San Francisco for a few days to share insights, interactions, and actionable intelligence to help organizations strengthen their cybersecurity postures.
14. CISO Leaders Australia
Date: May 2, 2023
Location: Sydney, Australia
This summit will be the meeting place for more than 100 of Australia’s leading CISOs, Heads of IT Security, and CIOs. The theme will be “Cybersecurity Modernization with a Threat-Informed Defense,” and the message will be delivered via a number of keynotes, workshops, and targeted roundtable discussions.
15. ThotCon
Date: May 19 & 20, 2023
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
This is a nonprofit, non-commercial hacking conference that will be held at a Chicago location only to be disclosed to attendees and speakers the week before the event. The atmosphere is casual, and attendees go just as much for the cybersecurity and hacking knowledge as they do for the social aspect as well.
16. HACKMIAMI X
Date: May 19-20, 2023
Location: Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, USA
HackMiami X 2023 Conference will consist of training classes on May 19, 2023 and speaking tracks on Saturday May 20, 2023. Track 1: NüWorld0rder – A novice track will be available for hackers who are learning the game. Track 2: 0ldWorld0rder – An advanced track for the hackers looking to show off their latest projects and research.
17. 44th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy
Date: May 22-25, 2023
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
The IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy is a forum for presenting developments in computer security and electronic privacy, and for bringing together researchers and practitioners in the field. The 2023 Symposium will mark the 44th annual meeting of this conference.
18. Techno Security & Digital Forensics Conference
Date: June 5-8, 2023
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
Date: September 11-13, 2023
Location: Pasadena, California, USA
For over 23 years, Techno Security & Digital Forensics Conference has become an excellent resource for security professionals in federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as for cybersecurity industry leaders from around the world. The purpose of this conference is to raise international awareness of the issues, ethics, and responsibilities in the field of digital forensics.
19. Vendor & Third Party Risk Europe
Date: June 12-13, 2023
Location: London, England, UK
This conference features interactive panel discussions that are designed to include attendees by running a live Q&A throughout the session. Industry experts provide detailed insights on a range of vendor risk issues, challenges, and opportunities. Networking opportunities including breakfast, lunch, and refreshment breaks on both days as well as access to all streams and sessions.
20. InfoSecurity Europe 2023
Date: June 20-22, 2023
Location: London, England UK
Infosecurity Europe bills itself as a conference to help “you find effective solutions for complex challenges under one roof.” This is the meeting place for the industry’s cybersecurity experts and a great opportunity to network and discuss the latest trends and issues facing the industry.
21. .conf23
Date: July 17-20, 2023
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
.conf is Splunk’s most anticipated customer and partner event of the year. You can expect sessions, compelling keynotes and guest speakers, plus the opportunity to connect with peers. The focus for .conf23 will be to learn why data is critical in powering your business and driving transformation.
22. Black Hat
Date: August 5-10, 2023
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada USA
Black Hat is one of the more technical information security events of the year, with the goal of defending the ever-changing information security landscape. Black Hat Briefings provide attendees with the latest in information security research, development, and trends. You’ll be able to check out technical courses often designed exclusively for the Black Hat conference, focusing on topics such as: penetration testing, exploiting web applications, and more.
23. CIO Leaders Philippines
Date: August 8, 2023
Location: Manila, Philippines
The upcoming 5th CIO Leaders Philippines Summit 2023 will bring together over 100 of the country’s leading CIOs, Heads of IT, and technology leaders. The theme for 2023 will be “Thriving in a Data-Driven Digital World.” There will be over 20 presentations, workshops, and roundtables.
24. DEF CON 31
Date: August 10-13, 2023
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada USA
This hacker convention is held every year in Las Vegas, and focuses on hacking-related subjects, as well as cybersecurity challenges. Federal law enforcement agents from the FBI, DoD, and other agencies regularly attend this conference as well. In the past, there have been contests, such as: lock-picking, scavenger hunts, and robotics challenges.
25. 2023 PCI North America Community Meeting
Date: September 12-14, 2023
Location: Portland, OR USA
The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) North America Community Meeting will provide you with the information and tools to help secure payment data. This is a global, cross-industry effort to increase payment security by providing industry-driven, flexible, and effective data security standards and programs that help businesses detect, mitigate, and prevent criminal attacks and breaches.
26. Mind the Sec
Date: September 12-14, 2023
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Mind the Sec is one of the largest information security conferences in Latin America. Tailored to Information Security decision-makers , brands, and specialists from Brazil and the world , it will be three days of technical and managerial content, main market trends, and networking activities.
27. Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Europe
Date: September 26-28, 2023
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
This conference helps attendees stay up-to-date on the latest issues, policies, and challenges facing the security of Europe’s critical national infrastructure (CNI). You’ll be able to gain insight into the collaboration and support between member nations that ensures CNI is protected from future threats and how to better plan, coordinate and manage a disaster.
28. Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit
Date: September 26-28, 2023
Location: London, UK
This conference gives attendees the chance to meet the providers changing the security and risk landscape, while exploring the latest trends in cloud security, privacy, threat management, infrastructure protection, application security, cybersecurity mesh and more.
29. Cloud Expo Asia
Date: October 11-12, 2023
Location: Marina Bay, Singapore
Hear from hundreds of Tech experts from around the world sharing insights and inspiration, and practical know-how. This conference covers topics from DevOps and containers, to cloud native and digital transformation.
30. Les Assises
Date: October 11-14, 2023
Location: Monaco
Les Assises has become an institution over the last 20 years. It is a meeting place to get insights from cybersecurity experts and go further into current and future cyber issues.
31. GITEX
Date: October 16-20, 2023
Location: Dubai, UAE
GITEX GLOBAL features every major trend and vertical, and it covers sectors including smart cities, cybersecurity, the data economy, mobility, healthcare, and telecoms.
32. 2023 PCI Europe Community Meeting
Date: October 24-26
Location: Dublin, Ireland
The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council is a global forum that develops, maintains, and manages the PCI Security Standards, which include the Data Security Standard (DSS), Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS), and PIN Transaction Security (PTS) Requirements. This conference features the Council staff and industry experts as they share the latest technical and security updates, and ways to get involved.
33. CISO Leaders Thailand
Date: November 7, 2023
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
The upcoming CISO Leaders Thailand Summit 2023 will bring together over 120 of the country’s cybersecurity leaders.. The theme will be focused around “Cybersecurity Modernization with a Threat-Informed Defense.” This conference offers pre-arranged 1:1 meetings, so attendees can have the opportunity to engage directly with other attendees, vendors, customers, and business leaders.
34. CS4CA MENA
Date: November 2023
Location: Neom, Saudi Arabia
The Cybersecurity for Critical Assets, Middle East/North Africa (CS4CA MENA) summit will explore all aspects of information technology (IT) security and operational technology (OT) security with a focus on digitally transforming critical infrastructures. The summit will bring together 100+ IT and OT security leaders in Noem for two days of insight building, strategy planning, and expert knowledge exchange.
35. SAINTCON
Date: TBD
Location: Utah, USA
Hosted by the Utah Chapter of the Security Advisory and Incident Network Team (“UtahSAINT”), this conference has been held annually for over 20 years. SAINTCON is a show for security and IT professionals, but also welcomes anyone interested in “computer security, hacking, and security research.”
36. Cybersecurity and Risk Summit
Date: TBD
Location: Multiple locations
Through its global summits and digital content, this conference provides the latest insights, data, and cutting-edge resources to help organizations and industry professionals mitigate risk and optimize performance.
37. Cybersecurity Leadership Summit
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
The Cybersecurity Leadership Summit brings together cybersecurity executives, analysts, and top CISOs from global players (past attendees included Mercedes-Benz, Deutsche Bank, Nordea, and Bank of Montreal) to help delegates drive decision-making within their organization and to better understand fundamental issues. This global, cross-industry conference offers the chance to learn and upgrade your skills to become a multifaceted security leader.
38. The Diana Initiative
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
The Diana Initiative is a diversity-driven conference committed to helping all underrepresented genders, sexualities, races, and cultures in Information Security. The Diana Initiative features multiple speaker tracks, hands-on workshops, and a women-led Capture the Flag event.
39. ICT
Date: TBD
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Cairo ICT addresses the impact of cloud computing and giant international data centers on the sovereignty of countries, as well as the issue of securing countries, institutions, companies, and various entities from the risks associated with digital transformation.
40. ISF World Congress (link to this year’s version)
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
The ISF World Congress is a key international conference for global senior executives and business leaders in information, cyber security, and risk management. This event offers an opportunity to discuss and find solutions to current security challenges, and gain practical advice from peers and leading industry experts from around the world.
At these events, you can learn about the latest trends, make connections with vendors, customers, and even colleagues while discovering new ways to approach cybersecurity. And while we may enjoy the convenience of remote or hybrid work, conferences are a great way to flex those in-person networking muscles that may have been dormant for the last few years. The list above is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a jumping off point so that you can find information and experiences that might be useful to your interests or career.
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