Buffalo, NY – In a world where cyber-attacks continue to increase in both frequency and sophistication, the region’s digital defenders are preparing to fight back. Cyber security professionals, enthusiasts and students will converge at Canisius University on Saturday, June 7 for BSides Buffalo, a cybersecurity and information technology conference. The event takes place at Science Hall, located at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, and runs from 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The conference is expected to draw upwards of 200 participants.
Established in 2009, BSides is a national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing information security knowledge through events, conferences and seminars around the world. Each event is unique and organized based on the interests and skills of the local community but all foster collaboration, education and innovation in cybersecurity at a time when digital threats continue to evolve and impact organizations of all sizes.
“Similar to all BSides conferences, BSides Buffalo is aimed at security practitioners - the engineers and analysts who have their hands on the keyboard,” says Matt Gracie, organizer of BSides Buffalo and an adjunct professor of cybersecurity at Canisius University. “Whether you're a new graduate, transitioning to a new career or a seasoned professional, it's a great chance to come together, celebrate that community, and learn from one another."
Highlights of the BSides Buffalo conference include:
Specialized presentation tracks: Industry experts will deliver talks across a variety of security topics, including “Hacking is Art,” a track that explores the creative intersection between technology and artistic expression, and “Introsec,” a track that introduces newcomers and novices to the fundamentals of cybersecurity.
Hands-on learning: Amateurs can take their first steps in hardware hacking by learning how to solder electronic circuits.
Capture the flag competition: Advanced cyber sleuths can put their skills to the test in a friendly hacking competition, in which participants race to solve various security-related challenges that range from reverse engineering to web application security, cryptography and network security to forensics.
Access to Canisius University’s cybersecurity lab: Canisius will open its state-of-the-art cybersecurity lab to the BSides Buffalo conference. The university is home to Western New York’s only technology-based master’s level cybersecurity program, which engages student in real-world training. Curricula include information security risk assessment, threat identification and mitigation, and the development of secure software defenses.
The MS in cybersecurity is one of three data-focused graduate programs at Canisius. The university also offers a master’s level program and advanced certificate in data analytics and a master’s level program in business analytics. All three programs (cybersecurity, data analytics and business analytics) will be represented at the BSides Buffalo conference.
For more information on the BSides Buffalo conference or to purchase tickets for the event, click here. Students and job seekers can receive a free ticket to the event when they submit their resumes. These submitted resumes will be shared with the event sponsors.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
