Forbes July 21, 2025
Conferences like RSAC and Black Hat are staples of the cybersecurity industry calendar, attended annually by thousands of professionals and vendors. But despite their popularity, attendees often leave these events wondering what concrete value they’ve gained. Vendors, too, frequently question whether the large investments in booths and sponsorships genuinely result in meaningful relationships or business opportunities.
Recently, I spoke with Ira Winkler, founder of CruiseCon, to explore how we might rethink the conference model to better serve both cybersecurity professionals and vendors.
The Traditional Conference Trap
Most cybersecurity professionals attend major industry events because it’s expected. Vendors invest heavily in these conferences because they fear missing out on visibility and potential sales opportunities. Social media is generally filled with people...
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