What are the best cybersecurity events to attend in 2021? Which ones are in-person, and which ones are virtual? Where can you sign up for these unique opportunities?
We’ve scoured the web, consulted with conference representatives, and identified where the industry’s top brass will be spending their time. If you are looking for top-notch keynotes, interesting sessions, best practices demos, and legitimate networking opportunities mark your calendar. These are the best cybersecurity events of 2021.
Some of the conferences we would normally list haven’t announced their 2021 plans. As such, expect this list to grow in the coming days as we update.
Events are listed in chronological order and may include additional dates. Clicking More Information directs you to the event homepage. If event organizers are solution providers, we’ve included the vendor name in parenthesis. We will note where events may also, or feature prominently, in-person components in an effort to help with COVID-19 safe planning and social distancing efforts.
The Best Cybersecurity Events to Attend in 2021
BSides
Dates: January-December 2021
Location: Virtual
BSides conferences take place throughout the year; each is a community-driven framework for building events for and by information security community members. BSides events enable professionals to both present and participate in an atmosphere that encourages collaboration and provides networking and educational opportunities. Additionally, many are free.
SecureWorld
Dates: February-December 2021
Location: Virtual
Another entry in which the best cybersecurity events in 2021 consists of multiple conferences and courses. It offers high-quality training and collaboration, with more than 20 educational elements. SecureWorld provides keynotes, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities as well as meetings with local chapters of security associations.
Cyber Security and Cloud Expo
Date: March 17-18, 2021
Location: Virtual
The Cyber Security & Cloud Expo explores the security industry as it undergoes evolution and disruption. Featuring keynotes, interactive panels, and case studies, the event offers special focus on financial services, engineering, healthcare, and retail industries. This event is free.
SANS 2021 – Live Online
Date: March 22-27 2021
Location: Virtual
The annual event from security research giant SANS Institute features practical cyber security training taught by real-world practitioners, hands-on labs in a virtual environment, and courses that align with GIAC certifications. Additionally, it shares an archive of past course lectures to participants.
CyberCon London
Date: May 12-13, 2021
Location: Virtual
Description: Unlike countless other cybersecurity conferences, CyberCon London is the most progressive event of its kind, allowing UK business leaders the opportunity to gain exclusive first-hand knowledge of new and emerging online threats and learn latest response strategies and solutions through immersive and interactive real-case scenarios.
RSA Conference 2021
Date: May 17-20, 2021
Location: Virtual
Description: With the theme of resilience pervading proceedings, the RSA Conference is one of the largest and best cybersecurity events of 2021. Its educational content covers 20 tracks, and includes more than 300 sessions with keynotes, partner seminars, and sponsor briefings as well as interactive and traditional sessions. While staying virtual, the RSA Conference 2021 will include many of the conference’s signature programs, including an innovation sandbox contest and capture-the-flag events.
2021 National Cyber Summit
Date: June 8-10, 2021
Location: Huntsville, AL (In-Person Event)
The National Cyber Summit is a major cyber security-technology event, offering unique educational, collaborative and workforce development opportunities for industry visionaries and rising leaders.
Infosecurity Europe
Date: June 8-10, 2021
Location: London, UK (In-Person Event)
Celebrating 25 years in 2021, Infosecurity Europe is the biggest gathering of the information security community in Europe. It allows participants to scope out the latest tech and connect with both vendors and end-users. This conference enables participants to see where cybersecurity stands currently and where it might still go.
The Diana Initiative
Date: August 4-5, 2021
Location: Las Vegas, NV (In-Person)
Description: A conference focused on Women, Diversity, and Inclusion in Information Security that embraces all genders, sexualities, and skill levels. The Diana Initiative features multiple speaker tracks, fully expanded villages with hands-on workshops, and a women-led Capture the Flag event.
Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit
Date: September 20 – 22, 2021
Location: Orlando, FL (In-Person)
Description: The 2021 schedule and program is still under development. Here is Gartner’s own summary of the 2020 event: Security, identity and access management, and risk management executives joined Gartner experts virtually, over four days to share valuable insights on establishing an effective, risk-based cybersecurity program. Attendees gained the information needed to prepare for the new normal. The conference offered the tools needed to create agile security and IT risk management plans to manage the risk inherent in digital business and be better prepared for the next global shock.
Be sure to stay tuned as we continue to update our list of the best cybersecurity events to attend in 2021. Also, check out our Endpoint Security Buyer’s Guide.
Ben Canner
Ben Canner is an enterprise technology writer and analyst covering Identity Management, SIEM, Endpoint Protection, and Cybersecurity writ large. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Clark University in Worcester, MA. He previously worked as a corporate blogger and ghost writer. You can reach him via Twitter and LinkedIn.
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