Black Hat USA, one of the world’s largest cybersecurity conferences, returns this year to Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center from August 3-8! Black Hat USA partners with companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, Sophos, and more. Last year, over 22,000 people attended Black Hat, with a similar number expected this year, and included security professionals from 127 countries.
This exclusive 6-day conference features in-person security training sessions, live seminars and briefings from industry experts, and an exhibition hall for demos of the latest security tools, solutions, and products.
For many, learning how to navigate Black Hat USA can seem overwhelming at first, even for long-time attendees, so we’ve prepared an in-depth breakdown of the conference and must-know tips to help you get the most out of the weeklong event.
Black Hat USA 2024 Conference Preview
Dates: August 3-8, 2024 (August 7-8 for Main Conference)
Location: Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Registration link: www.blackhat.com/us-24/registration.html
- Note: There are two options for registration: in-person and on-demand. In-person registration includes access to all in-person events during the week and recorded briefings of sessions, briefings, and presentations. On-demand access only allows access to recorded sessions one week after the event and does not include in-person access.
Passes
There are multiple passes available, depending on the level of access you want.
- Briefings Passes allow registrants to access all Briefings, Business Hall activities, Arsenal demos, and Sponsored Sessions.
- Business Passes allow access to all Business Hall activities, and Arsenal demos but do NOT include access to Briefings.
- Academic Passes are also available to students or full-time professors at a discounted rate to the regular Briefing Passes.
Deadline to register:
- Early access: Ends May 24th, 2024
- Regular access: Ends July 19th, 2024 (final date for Academic Passes)
- Late access: Ends August 2nd, 2024
- On-site: Up to the final day of the event on August 8th, 2024
Event website: www.blackhat.com/us-24/
Conference highlights and overview
There’s much to do at Black Hat, so make sure you plan accordingly! Here’s a breakdown of all of the events happening during the week:
Business Hall
Dates: August 7-8
Hours: Wednesday 10:00 am — 6:00 pm | Thursday 10:00 am — 4:00 pm
Virtual Hours: Wednesday 8:30 am — 5:00 pm | Thursday 8:30 am — 4:00 pm
List of attendees: www.blackhat.com/us-24/business-hall.html
Perhaps one of the main highlights of Black Hat, Business Hall is a key networking and exhibition session that connects security vendors, products, and tools. Many of the latest infosec tools will be displayed here from various Black Hat sponsors, tech startups, and established players in cybersecurity.
Hundreds of vendors (including UpGuard!) are expected to exhibit this year, making it one of the best places to network and learn about the latest industry news. Make sure you bring a bag or backpack to carry all the free stuff that booths are giving out!
Trainings
Dates: August 3-6
Cost: Range from $4100 to $8300 per course
List of training courses: www.blackhat.com/us-24/training/schedule/
The first four days of Black Hat are dedicated to hosting specialized cybersecurity training courses, which are taught by industry experts from around the world, to build firsthand technical skills and learn the core fundamentals of information security. Courses are curated for people of all experience levels, from beginner-level education to advanced-level, hands-on training.
Training classes and sessions are available in either 2-day or 4-day classes and are NOT part of the Black Hat registration cost. Courses range from $4100 to $8300 each, depending on the length of the training or intensity of the subject. You can find trainings for AppSec, PenTesting, Forensics, Network, Crypto, ICS, and more!
Briefings
Dates: August 7-8
Cost: Free
List of briefings: www.blackhat.com/us-24/briefings/schedule/index.html
Briefings will take place during the two-day main conference from August 7-8, with more than 100 selected briefings, kicking off at 9:00 am on Wednesday and Thursday. Briefings are completely free to attend and are included in the registration fee. Make sure you view the full listing in the link above.
Selected briefings are available in 30 or 40-minute sessions, each focusing on various dedicated security topics, including Threat Hunting & Incident Response, Community and Career, AI, ML, & Data Science, Cryptography, Application Security: Defense, and more!
Arsenal
Dates: August 7-8
Cost: Free
List of Arsenal showcases: www.blackhat.com/us-24/arsenal/schedule/index.html
Arsenal is a showcase for security researchers and open-source developers to demo their latest products and tools. This event is meant to be hands-on and interactive, where the audience can engage with presenters to learn about the latest security technology.
This event occurs during the main conference on August 7-8, so make sure you view the full lineup of Arsenal presenters to see if there’s a specific tool you might be looking for.
Who should attend Black Hat USA 2024?
Black Hat USA is one of the premier cybersecurity events of the year, attracting thousands of professionals of all levels, from ground-level cyber analysts to CISOs, to build cybersecurity awareness and learn brand-new skills. The best thing about Black Hat is that ANYONE can attend and there are no restrictions at all.
For those wishing to attend through an academic or work sponsorship, Black Hat offers a free Justification Letter template that they can send to their employer or education head at the bottom of their registration page.
Registration page: www.blackhat.com/us-24/registration.html
UpGuard at Black Hat USA 2024
UpGuard will be exhibiting this year at Black Hat USA!
Find us at Booth #2940 and get expert advice on the latest threat landscape and how to secure your organization’s Third-Party and Vendor Risk Management with the UpGuard platform.
We’ll also be giving away a ton of free swag and goodies and raffling off a FREE pair of AirPods Max headphones, so make sure you stop by and enter yourself in our giveaway.
> Want to book some 1:1 time with us and secure a live demo at our booth? Sign up now for a personalized 15-minute session: sign up now!
Don’t miss the UpGuard Exclusive Networking Event and Happy Hour!
We’ll also be hosting an exclusive UpGuard Networking and Happy Hour event at the Franklin Lounge at Delano Las Vegas, part of the Mandalay Bay Hotel! It’s just a few minutes walk from the main floor.
You can sign up here for early access to the Happy Hour and come find us at our booth and we’ll put your name down: https://lu.ma/om13jd6m
Essential tips for navigating Black Hat USA
Use these essential pro tips to help you get around Black Hat more easily so you know what to expect!
1. Avoid getting hacked
This is probably the MOST important tip on this list. Black Hat events are notorious for attracting cyber attackers, who see these major cybersecurity conferences as the perfect opportunity to test out their hacking capabilities or new hacking tools.
In addition, the DEF CON Conference is taking place in Las Vegas the following week, so expect plenty of activity to occur over these two weeks, and be prepared to protect yourself.
Don’t attend Black Hat without first reading these essential tips and best practices on how to avoid putting yourself at risk!
Never connect to open, public Wi-Fi networks
Free, public Wi-Fi networks are typically always unsecured and leave you vulnerable to hackers. Open networks create openings for cybercriminals to intercept your data transmissions, impersonate your identity, and even steal your confidential information. In some cases, hackers will set up fake Wi-Fi networks to bait unsuspecting users into connecting and intercept ALL of the data that they send or receive while connected.
If you must connect to Wi-Fi, always use a trusted VPN provider to encrypt your data, either one provided by your workplace or a highly-rated VPN service. Also, make sure your devices do not automatically connect to open Wi-Fi networks.
Do NOT accept free USB drives
Many vendors inside the Business Hall hand out free swag or goodies as part of their booth experience or you might find tables that pass out free gifts to promote their service or product. However, one thing you should NEVER take or accept is the free USB thumb drives.
There may be a chance that hackers are in the conference passing out malware-infected USB sticks that can automatically download malware onto your computer if it’s inserted. If you’re bringing your own thumb drive as part of a presentation or using it for work, make sure it’s clearly labeled and that you keep it secure and in view so no malicious party can steal or swap it out.
Do NOT leave personal devices unattended
As general good practice, you should always make sure your devices are attended to. Practice safe physical security by never leaving your phone or laptop unlocked or unattended in case of device or credential theft.
2. Look over the daily agendas
With dozens of Briefings and Sponsored Sessions during the two-day main conference, make sure you plan ahead in choosing which sessions you want to attend and making sure that your schedule doesn’t overlap with other sessions.
If you’re planning to visit the Business Hall, browse the list of vendors to see if there are any you might be interested in visiting. Many of these vendors may offer booking links to schedule a meeting with them ahead of time, so you can plan your entire day more efficiently.
List of attendees: www.blackhat.com/us-24/business-hall.html
List of training courses: www.blackhat.com/us-24/training/schedule/
List of briefings: www.blackhat.com/us-24/briefings/schedule/index.html
List of Sponsored Sessions: www.blackhat.com/us-24/sponsored-sessions/schedule/index.html
List of Arsenal showcases: www.blackhat.com/us-24/arsenal/schedule/index.html
3. Dress comfortably and hydrate
The Mandalay Bay Convention Center features several floors across large exhibition rooms, so be prepared to wear comfortable shoes and plan some downtime to rest. Black Hat is a weeklong event from morning to evening, so make sure you plan ahead and don’t tire yourself out too quickly.
Black Hat is in Las Vegas, which means that the desert climate and summer weather can leave you dehydrated if you forget to drink water. Bring a light water bottle if you can or remember to find water stations to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Don’t forget there’s a Welcome Reception at the end of the first day, August 7th, with Happy Hour events happening after that may involve alcohol, so be prepared!
4. Be ready to network and socialize
One of the biggest advantages of attending a major conference like Black Hat is that you’ll get to meet thousands of similar interest cybersecurity professionals. While you’ll get a first look at many new security tools, services, and products, use this unique opportunity to strike up new conversations with fellow professionals and enthusiasts and build new connections outside of your workplace or typical circles.
Also, make a note of interesting booths, engaging sessions or briefings, and keep an eye out for any happy hour events or post-banquet (after Day 1 on Wednesday) events that allow you to chat up industry leaders and learn more about the cybersecurity world in general.
