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Leeds Beckett at the heart of cyber security conference

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Leeds Beckett at the heart of cyber security conference

19 January 2018

Leeds Beckett University is set to play an integral role in a sell-out conference in the city, which aims to shine a spotlight on web attacks, computer hacking and cyber security.

This is the first year Leeds will host the BSides conference - the first dedicated conference for cyber security experts – and students from the School of Computing, Creative Technologies and Engineering and from the university’s Ethical Hacking Society are helping to organise and run the event on the day.

Held at Leeds Beckett’s Cloth Hall Court in the city centre on 26 January, the conference sold out within hours of tickets going on sale.

Around 300 people are expected to attend the event, which is being sponsored Sky Betting and Gaming, the Co-operative, Octopi Tech, Pentest Partners, Xiphos Research and REDACTED Firm.

Emlyn Butterfield, Course Director for forensics and security courses at Leeds Beckett, including MSc Computer Security, said: “This event is a great opportunity for people within the security industry to come together, network and share expertise.

Emlyn Butterfield

Emlyn Butterfield

“Leeds has shown itself to be a hub of digital activity, and the inclusion of this conference further reinforces the specialist skills and knowledge available locally.

“Our students will have the opportunity to get real world knowledge which will reinforce their learning and give them the opportunity to talk to industry on a massive scale.

“We will hear about a range of security technologies and techniques that are at the forefront of the security industry.”

Attendees will hear from a range of specialists covering everything from social engineering to the latest attacks on systems, and can join practical workshops looking at developing new skills and technology.

Mark Carney, BSides founder, said: “We aim to create a space that will bring together industry luminaries, professionals, businesses, students and those aiming to get into the industry, to discuss current topics and technical viewpoints.

“The cyber security industry is growing, and with the arrival of the BSides conference, Leeds is further establishing itself as a centre for excellence in the industry.”

BSides is an international community series of conferences, which highlight the work of security experts, looks at mainstream security and gives industry professionals and students the opportunity to network. For more information on BSides, visit their website or follow them on Twitter.