Overall rating: 2/5
As a passionate member of the cybersecurity community, attending BSides Bangalore 2024 for the first time was both exciting and a learning experience. BSides events hold a special place in the hearts of cybersecurity professionals due to their community-driven nature and focus on technical content. However, my experience at this year's event was a mix of positives and negatives. In this detailed review, I'll share my thoughts and offer constructive feedback to both the organizers and my fellow attendees.
Conf Pass:
Considering the single-day format, the conference pass cost could have been slightly lower, especially for students & professionals.
Swags:
The swags distributed as part of the welcome kit and at vendor booths were amazing and definitely a highlight for attendees.
A cool black hoodie having BSides Bangalore branding (welcome kit) and laptop bag (courtesey of CloudSek)!
Venue and Logistics:
The venue choice, while seemingly convenient due to its central location, presented some unforeseen challenges. The decision to partition a single hall for two concurrent sessions led to a less-than-ideal experience. The acoustics weren't optimal, and the noise from one session often bled into the other, making it difficult to focus. Additionally, the lack of clear signage indicating which session was taking place in which part of the hall caused confusion and wasted time for attendees trying to find their preferred talks.
Furthermore, the conference schedule experienced noticeable delays, impacting the length and depth of presentations. In the future, perhaps allocating more time for each session or reducing the number of concurrent talks could mitigate these issues.
Talks, Overall Content and Delivery:
The workshops and especially the lockpicking village were clear highlights of the conference. The practical, hands-on nature of these sessions aligned well with the spirit of BSides, providing attendees with valuable skills and knowledge.
However, the keynotes felt less impactful than anticipated. While the speakers were undoubtedly knowledgeable, the content seemed somewhat disconnected from the technical focus that many attendees expected. It would be beneficial to prioritize deep dives into specific technical areas over broader, less focused keynotes. Additionally, a keynote towards the end of the event felt unsettling.
The technical talks were great in all aspects but not a good experience especially for the talk speakers and the attendees as the main hall was just partitioned into half to run 2 talks at the same time, utterly chaotic. This felt like being in a room with 2 speakers playing different music at the same time!
The award ceremony, while a well-intentioned way to acknowledge contributions to the community, stretched on for an extended period. A shorter, more concise format would have allowed for more time to be devoted to technical presentations or discussions. It just ran more than 2 hours, super time consuming and boring to be honest :(
Overall Duration & Networking:
The single-day format felt rushed, particularly with a significant portion of the day dedicated to opening and closing ceremonies. While these ceremonies are important, they could perhaps be streamlined to allow for more technical content. A two-day format, even if with fewer concurrent tracks, might offer a more balanced and enriching experience.
This would also potentially allow for a dedicated hour for networking among attendees, a missed opportunity at this year's event.
Vendor Booth Engagement:
The vendor booths were a mixed bag. While the products on display were interesting, the interactions often felt more like sales pitches than opportunities to delve into the technical details and nuances of the offerings. A better balance between marketing and technical discussions would make these booths more valuable for attendees seeking in-depth information.
Workshops:
While the workshops being run were very interesting and relevant, the room allocated for the workshops was super small allowing only a few people to sit and attend it. There were many attendees standing behind to catch a glimpse of their workshops.
Villages:
I was thrilled to attend The Lockpick Village & Hardware: Soldering Village. This definitely stands up as this provided a hands-on experience on how to pick locks!
Certificate:
The decision to provide only email certificates, while understandable from a logistical standpoint, was a missed opportunity to offer attendees a tangible memento of their participation. Physical certificates, even if simple, can hold sentimental value and serve as a reminder of the event.
Trainings:
I did not attend the any trainings this time, so I cannot offer feedback on that aspect of the event.
Networking Dinner:
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the corporate networking party, so I cannot offer feedback on that aspect of the event.
Opportunities for Improvement:
Venue: Consider a venue with multiple dedicated rooms to accommodate concurrent sessions without sound bleed. Clear signage for session locations would also be helpful.
Schedule: Allocate more time per session or reduce the number of concurrent talks to avoid delays and rushed presentations.
Keynotes: Prioritize shorter and in-depth technical talks over broader, less focused keynotes.
Certificates: Offer physical certificates in addition to email versions.
Duration: Explore a two-day format to allow for a more relaxed schedule, more in-depth content, and dedicated networking time.
Vendor Booths: Encourage vendors to prioritize technical discussions alongside product demonstrations and if possible, a trial of the vendor product for the attendees.
Pricing: Consider tiered pricing options to accommodate different budgets, particularly for students and those on a tight budget.
Award Ceremony: Streamline the ceremony to make it more concise and efficient.
Villages: A dedicated place and announcement for Villages would benefit the attendees
Conclusion:
BSides Bangalore 2024 had its share of highs and lows. As a community-driven event, feedback is crucial for improvement. I hope that this feedback will be received constructively and will contribute to making future BSides Bangalore conferences even more successful and valuable for the cybersecurity community!
As said truly "An event's heart is its Volunteers!", kudos to the entire OC & specially the Volunteers who made this event wonderful!