Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- Two-day community-driven cybersecurity conference marking its 10th anniversary in 2026
- Designed for both experienced security professionals and newcomers to the field
- Features technical talks, hands-on activities, and dedicated sessions for those entering cybersecurity
- Interactive badge-building activity challenges attendees to “catch the ghost”
About BSides NoVA
BSides NoVA is a community-focused cybersecurity conference taking place October 30 to 31, 2026. Now in its tenth year, the event brings together security practitioners, students, and enthusiasts for two days of technical presentations, interactive activities, and professional networking.
The conference follows the BSides model of community-driven security events, emphasizing collaboration and knowledge sharing over commercial interests. Programming includes technical talks covering cybersecurity issues and industry trends, alongside hands-on activities such as an interactive badge challenge.
Who Should Attend
BSides NoVA welcomes attendees across all experience levels. The conference explicitly caters to newcomers through dedicated sessions designed to help those entering the cybersecurity workforce. Experienced practitioners benefit from technical content and peer networking opportunities.
Typical attendees include security analysts, engineers, penetration testers, IT professionals, and students. Organizations represented span technology companies, government agencies, consultancies, and educational institutions.
Professional Development Focus
The conference addresses common challenges facing security practitioners, including staying current with evolving threats and technologies, building professional networks, and gaining practical experience. For those new to cybersecurity, the event provides an accessible entry point into the professional community and opportunities to learn from established practitioners.