New Orleans to Host its First BSides Information Security Conference

BSidesNOLABSides is a free, all-day information security event that takes place around the world. The event will be in New Orleans on May 25, 2013 at the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center.

Andrew Case is organizing this event with four others. He believes BSidesNOLA is a great networking and informational opportunity as well as a benefit to the local and regional IT community. “The wave of startups and renewed interest in technology investment in New Orleans is not a fad, but an opportunity for growth and all areas,” Case said. “This city has become a hotbed of new and innovative ideas and bringing fresh faces and new perspectives will help not only the city itself, but also the IT community as a whole.”

BSides was started by a group of people who wanted to make similar conferences less about money and sales pitches. Vendors are allowed to attend but not given speeches or presentations. Instead, the organizers have confirmed a schedule of 18 speaks across three tracks in addition to one keynote.

Case said IT people, whether they have information security skills or not, will greatly benefit from the event.  Almost 200 people have registered and the goal is to have 250 signed up by the time of the event. Presentations will range from introductory forensics, social engineering, managing security incidents and more. The event will host speakers from Google, HP, and Ernst & Young. The full list of speakers is available here.

“The quality of sharing and learning and the resulting dialogue is certainly something to look forward to,” said Case. “We also are excited to continue our part in growing and making stronger the local information security community.”

BSidesNOLA still has a number of named sponsor slots available in addition to creative opportunities for sponsor showcases. For more information contact bsidesnola@gmail.com.

Case is also behind the local IT security group NolaSec, which brings people together for a monthly meeting where attendees can learn about new research and IT security in a quick presentation format. The organizers switched to a new format last summer where a series of 10-minute talks are given each meeting opposed to one-hour talk per meeting. Follow NolaSec on Twitter for news and updates.

Registration is open through this link, which you must use to attend BSidesNOLA.

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