The Lesson of Black Hat: It's About the People, Stupid
Security Boulevard, Friday, August 8th, 2025
I've been attending Black Hat for over two decades now - and every year, no matter how crowded the halls or blistering the Las Vegas heat, I'm reminded of what truly makes this conference great: The people.
After more than 20 years on the Black Hat circuit, it hits me again and again how exceptional this cybersecurity community is. The friends I've made - some spanning nearly 30 years - are among the sharpest minds in the business and some of the dearest to me. Catching up with longtime pals like Jeremiah Grossman, Robert Hansen, Rich Mogull, Fred Wilmot, Sumedh Thakar, Chris Tilton - and so many others who don't fit into the narrow corridors of my old brain right now - still lights me up. These aren't just security professionals. They're the marketers and PR folks, the event organizers, the session chairs - all the behind-the-scenes contributors who quietly help shape this remarkable community.