These are the cybersecurity events to attend this autumn, and our team’s take on getting the most from them.
From the idyllic charm of Lausanne, Switzerland, to the hustle and bustle of Barcelona, via the eternal city of Rome, there are no less than 12 cybersecurity events taking place in some of Europe’s most iconic locations this autumn.
There’s no reason why a visit to a cybersecurity event shouldn’t mirror a perfectly choreographed ballet.
Too many cities, but not enough time? Attending events can be stressful, but only if you turn up unprepared. Spending time beforehand to work out who you want to see, and what you want to get out of your precious time there is key. There’s no reason why a visit to a cybersecurity event shouldn’t mirror a perfectly choreographed ballet.
We asked three seasoned eventgoers from our team what their top tips were for getting the most out of attending events, and how they managed their time effectively.
Open your mind
“Go with a purpose. Make the event about the things you need to know about, but make sure you see one session or have one conversation that doesn’t feel like it should be relevant. It’s amazing how much you can learn from hearing about something you don’t normally invest your time in. Often, it’s less about the content and more about the way people approach a problem and look for the solution that fits the issue.”
Network, network, network
Be brave and strike up conversations with as many people as you can."
“Plan your day well ahead of time. If the event has multiple, parallel streams or sessions, spend the time identifying which you will get the most value from. There is nothing worse than spending the breaks with your head in the event guide to see what’s next.”
“And if you can, book the sessions you want in advance. Often the most popular ones can get overbooked – so you may not get into your preferred session on the day. Network, network, network. Be brave and strike up conversations with as many people as you can – it’s amazing what common challenges and interests you have with other delegates. Go with an open mind, no matter how seasoned (you think) you are as there’s always so much to learn. Take the time to chat with the presenters after the sessions. It’s amazing how much more they will share one-on-one.
It's good to talk
If you’re attending with colleagues, it’s easy to spend time with them during breaks and lunch – abandon them! Go and sit with someone you don’t know, maybe someone you have seen in a previous session, and start a conversation.
Many events also offer a specific event app to improve your experience and engagement. Remember to download this and spend some time with it before the event. Trust me – the experience is never as good trying to download it on a weak Wi-Fi on the day!
‘Be in the room’. If you’re going to invest your time and someone’s money to attend an event – be present. Avoid (as much as you can) being on your phone, set your status as away, and if possible, turn your phone off.
Connect afterward: Make a note of the people you meet and talk to, take a photo of their conference badge (yup, you will have to turn your phone back on, maybe go airplane mode!) and connect on LinkedIn afterward and share your thoughts about the event or follow up on the conversation you had.”
Divide and conquer
“Thoroughly assess the agenda and identify learning opportunities. If you’re attending with multiple people from your organization, connect in advance to divide and conquer and get the most out of the content. Within the sessions, use your device to discreetly take notes and capture any slide content that resonates with you. You might think you’ll remember the information later, but chances are that given you’re consuming vast quantities of content, you’ll be grateful for those notes to democratize your organization later.
Effective networking is paramount. Engage not just with the panelists, moderators, and keynote speakers if you get an organic opportunity, (plus LinkedIn), but all attendees. Try to attend those early morning events if possible. It’s typically a smaller crew, so you’ll get more quality time with each other. You never know how important that new connection will be years into the future.”
Now you have the perfect formula for how to prioritize your time to get the most out of attending an event, here comes the difficult part – choosing which of these events you want to attend…
Cyber Resilience Summit, Lausanne: Three days of thought-provoking discussions and high-level networking to address the importance of cyber resilience as a critical business issue.
Hack in Paris: Understand the realities of hacking and the consequences it has on organizations at this five-day event that brings together IT security experts and enthusiasts.
International Cybersecurity Expo, London: This two-day event invites attendees to discover the future of cybersecurity and explore the latest advancements that are shaping our digital world.
Cybersecurity & Cloud Expo, Amsterdam: Hear from leading industry experts and discover key strategies in the world of cybersecurity and the cloud at this two-day event.
Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit, London: Curated for security and risk management leaders and practitioners, this three-day summit showcases risk management techniques and technology designed to help them achieve mission-critical objectives.
CyberTech Europe, Rome: Featuring the latest innovative solutions from dozens of companies and renowned speakers in their field including C-level execs, this two-day event attracts industry trailblazers from across Europe.
It-sa Expo & Congress, Nuremberg: This trade fair covers the entire range of products and services in the field of cybersecurity, and topics including mobile security, data and network security, and the protection of critical infrastructures.
ETSI Cybersecurity Conference, Sophia Antipolis: This year’s ETSI Security Conference sees the security community come together to focus on security research, and global security standards in action.
Security Research Event, Brussels: Organized by the European Commission, this two-day conference explores all aspects of security research, and concludes with an award ceremony.
UKsec Cybersecurity Summit, London: Aimed at UK-based cybersecurity professionals, this two-day event provides them with a platform to collaborate and exchange knowledge to secure a hyper-remote workforce.
Gartner IT Symposium, Barcelona: An event aimed at CIOs and IT leaders to explore the technology, insights, and trends that are shaping the future of IT and business, including cybersecurity and data analytics.
BlackHat Europe, London: A four-day coming together of the brightest professionals and researchers from the world of information security to explore the latest research, development, and trends.
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