BSides San Antonio 2026: Following Trust Across Applications, Cloud, and Compliance

San Antonio's historic charm and vibrant attractions, such as the River Walk and the Alamo, draw millions of visitors annually, and it recently hosted the BSides San Antonio 2026, a significant cybersecurity event focused on community learning and best practices in security. With over 400 attendees, the conference featured 36 presentations and workshops addressing contemporary security challenges, such as the risks of runtime credentials in web applications and the potential vulnerabilities of Azure managed identities. Presenters like Hemanth Gorijala and Manuel Melendez highlighted critical security issues, emphasizing the importance of layered defense, backend-for-frontend patterns, and the careful management of permissions to prevent unauthorized access. In addition, Dustin Cloos discussed the pitfalls of compliance programs that emphasize appearances over effective operations, stressing that true security comes from demonstrable, ongoing processes rather than mere policy adherence. A recurring theme throughout the event was the necessity of understanding trust within systems and the human element in security, advocating for a community-driven approach to knowledge sharing and continuous improvement in security practices.