BSides312 2026: Security Basics Under New Pressure

The BSides312 2026 cybersecurity conference in Chicago's historic Mayfair neighborhood exemplified a diverse community collaborating to address the challenges of defending legacy systems and maintaining infrastructures under new pressures. The event featured sessions on various topics, including open-source security risks, digital forensics, DNS vulnerabilities, and Active Directory permissions, each emphasizing the importance of revisiting foundational security practices in an era of rapid technological advancements. Keynote speaker Heidi Potter highlighted that community efforts extend beyond conferences, fostering collaboration and support among security professionals. Presentations by experts like Sean Juroviesky, Dr. Cathy Ullman, Matt Scheurer, and Nikos Vourdas underscored the need for continuous monitoring, secure software development lifecycles, and a strong understanding of systems to mitigate risks effectively. The conference emphasized that while AI accelerates development, the basics of security, such as trust, identity, and access, remain crucial, and community engagement is vital to adapting to evolving threats and improving security practices collectively.