For the previous 12 years in Austin, TX, the final week of October has been reserved for the Lonestar Utility Safety Convention (LASCON). Unequivocally, LASCON is one of the best cybersecurity convention you’ve by no means heard of!

LASCON is the annual confab of the Austin, TX OWASP (the Open Worldwide Utility Safety Challenge) chapter. OWASP is a volunteer group that could be a treasure trove of utility safety data with issues comparable to requirements, dialogue teams, documentation, and extra. The group tracks the annual OWASP High 10 internet utility safety dangers and is the proverbial north star for builders looking for safer coding practices.

LASCON 2023 talks are recorded and out there.

As a convention, LASCON rolls up its metaphorical sleeves and places on a superb present. The individuality of LASCON:

• Delivers distinctive content material centered on utility safety
• Provides each attendee the chance to problem themselves and achieve new life expertise
• Offers bodily and cerebral leisure

Distinctive content material

LASCON is wholly dedicated to discussing, exploring, and showcasing utility safety. Try the 2023 agenda right here to see the intensive programming centered on utility safety.

Why is utility safety so vital? On the earth of cybersecurity, the subset of utility safety is the final mile and the world the adversaries know could also be much less security-aware.

Software program is malleable and extensively shared. In lots of circumstances software program builders reside in an atmosphere of “simply ship it” solely to seek out that unintentional vulnerabilities crept right into a manufacturing launch.

The push to “DevSecOps” or “SecDevOps” means safety disciplines are being integrated from the start to alleviate lots of the issues that stem from a “simply ship it” atmosphere.

LASCON tackles the what, why, and the way of utility safety. In 2023, there was loads of concentrate on the wants and advantages of automation, how improvement groups want to speak to completely different audiences, and naturally what generative-AI means for utility safety. In different phrases, one thing for everybody.

Most of the LASCON classes have been recorded and the replays will probably be out there within the subsequent few months. I extremely advocate viewing this topical content material.

New life expertise

Just like different conferences, LASCON has an expo corridor the place sponsor-vendors showcase their know-how and provides away swag.

However…LASCON goes a step additional and brings within the Longhorn Lock Choosing Membership to arrange Lock Decide Village in a single finish of the expo corridor. Lock Decide Village focuses on locksport. This ability makes use of logical pondering, includes guide dexterity, and brings out the bodily side of safety.

Lock Decide Village is a favourite amongst attendees and creates a bonding alternative at LASCON. The mayor of Lock Decide Village runs numerous contests all through the 2 days of the convention with winners strolling away with bragging rights.

Leisure

LASCON has one thing for everybody!

Annually, the LASCON organizing staff hosts “velocity debates”. These debates are sarcastic, outlandish, and simply plain humorous. A moderator hosts two groups who tackle cybersecurity matters of the day and current heartfelt professional or con arguments. Matters are far-ranging and embody the necessity to make your whole passwords the identical, why cryptocurrency is the one factor that issues, and why cyber adversaries are simply doing a job. Because the debates rage on, the arguments grow to be extra tongue-in-cheek, and everyone seems to be laughing on the downright absurd statements made. If you’re a developer and cyber nerd and have a humorousness, the velocity debates are a must-attend exercise!

And for bodily leisure there’s the mechanical bull. Sure, you learn that accurately, a mechanical bull – LASCON is in Texas, in any case!

Through the afternoon of the primary day of the convention, one of many assembly rooms is magically reworked right into a corral for a mechanical bull! All you must do is signal a waiver, make your method throughout the air-filled padding on the ground, and experience the bull! That is far less complicated than it sounds – signing the waiver is the simplest half.

Happily, the operator understands the viewers and is sort of affected person as he explains the equipment. A few of us stayed on for mere nanoseconds whereas others regarded as if they have been actual reside cowboys! No matter the place you fall on the bull-riding spectrum, it’s an journey not quickly forgotten.

LASCON is memorable

Between the excellent content material, studying methods to decide locks, velocity debating, and using a mechanical bull, LASCON creates a long-lasting impression. The organizers, who’re all volunteers make the convention a should attend occasion – thanks for being so artistic with LASCON!

In 2023, I used to be lucky sufficient to be chosen as a speaker. As a thanks, the LASCON staff bestows the entire audio system with an epic problem coin with the theme of the convention engraved.

This token of appreciation is vastly admired and made its method house with me to a distinguished place in my workplace. I take a look at the coin every day and recall what I discovered at LASCON and stay up for the 2024 convention.

Mark your calendars for the week of October 22, 2024 for LASCON 2024. Come to Austin, TX and expertise one of the best cybersecurity convention you by no means heard of!

See you at LASCON!