event report 1

In October 2023, I attended BSides St. Petersburg 2023, a community-driven cybersecurity conference that brought together professionals, students, and cyber enthusiasts to discuss current trends and challenges in cybersecurity. As a cybersecurity student, this event offered a unique opportunity for me to learn directly from practitioners and participate in a real CTF competition. The event aligned closely with my career interests by exposing me to practical aspects of network defense, ethical hacking, and incident response. BSides events are known for their grassroots organization and focus on hands on learning instead of corporate presentations. The atmosphere at BSides was relaxed but also extremely informative. The conference featured multiple talks, including technical demonstrations, red team/blue team discussions, and workshops on cybersecurity tools. One session that stood out to me was a presentation on “Threat Hunting with Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)”, which explored how analysts can leverage public data to identify potential threats. The presenter showed practical use cases of tools like Maltego and SpiderFoot, providing insights into real threat analysis that went beyond what’s taught in a textbook. Another memorable session focused on incident response strategies for small businesses. The speaker talked about the importance of establishing proactive security policies and maintaining documented response procedures. This session was relevant to my career goals because I want to work in cybersecurity operations or threat intelligence. Understanding how professionals manage breaches and coordinate responses reinforced the significance of communication and planning within cybersecurity teams. In addition to the talks, I had the opportunity to interact with cybersecurity professionals from various backgrounds, including penetration testers, security engineers, and policy analysts. These conversations were as valuable as the presentations themselves. I learned about different career paths, certifications, and how professionals stay current in such a dynamic field. For example, several attendees discussed their experience obtaining CompTIA Security+, CBBH, and OSCP certifications, offering advice for students preparing to enter the workforce. The conference also featured a Capture the Flag (CTF) competition, where teams solved cybersecurity challenges ranging from cryptography and web exploitation to reverse engineering. I participated alongside team CyberHerd and we managed to win 1st place. Seeing experienced competitors approach problems differently also inspired me to continue improving my technical skills. In conclusion, BSides St. Petersburg 2023 provided a meaningful opportunity to engage with cybersecurity professionals and explore cutting-edge topics in the field. What I found most valuable was the event’s grassroots spirit. The event was a good divide between theory and practice, showing me how the concepts I study in class apply in real life environments. From a personal and professional standpoint, going to BSides strengthened my desire to pursue a career in cybersecurity. I left the conference with a clearer understanding of potential career paths, the importance of continuous learning, and the ethical considerations that guide responsible security work.

References

BSides St. Petersburg. (2023). BSides St. Pete 2023. https://www.bsidesstpete.com/