On February 13, 2025, I accidentally stepped into a unique cybersecurity event named ChiBrrCon held in the Hermann Hall Conference Center at Illinois Institute of Technology. Themed after Wizards and Warlocks, the atmosphere was remarkably electric where attending cybersecurity professional, student, and enthusiasts gathered to exchange knowledge, network and immerse themselves in the unique environment.
ChiBrrCon isn’t just another cybersecurity event, but a community-driven initiative built primarily by and for practitioners. What sets it apart is its dedication to provide high quality cybersecurity training for those professionals that are dealing with tight corporate training budgets. Since its first event happened in 2020, it has now expanded beyond just seasoned professionals, offering content that is tailored for the ever-changing field of cybersecurity. Its initiatives of diversity, equity, and inclusion were particularly noteworthy as they actively try to address the diversity gap in cybersecurity like inviting underrepresented groups and ensuring that their voices are also heard. One other unique difference between other larger and more commercialized conferences is the fact that ChiBrrCon is completely corporate sponsored and vendor-natural event which allows it to be more focused on education, collaboration and innovation rather than sales pitches.
Keeping Wizards and Warlocks as the theme of the conference gave it a distinct personality where attendees fully blend in the fantasy inspired aesthetic with many professionals wearing cloaks, wizard hats and other creative costumes, basically like mini Halloween. This fun approach added an special element that in way made it easier for everyone to interact comfortably which otherwise was fully packed with deeply technical discussions daily related to Artificial Intelligence, leadership in cybersecurity and identity and access management.
The event started with an opening ceremony in cleric’s temple. The keynote speaker took the stage to deliver a very insightful presentation emphasizing on the role of artificial intelligence in cyber security. It was very interesting and engaging, touching on both the potential benefits and risks of AI-driven security tools. The conference had something for everyone with more than 30 speakers across multiple tracks. As it was not possible for someone to attend all of them, I tried to attend those that covered a range of critical cybersecurity topics:
- Leadership in cybersecurity-related sessions addressed the growing need for effective leadership in the field of infosec especially in the rapidly changing attack landscapes.
- Identity and access management was a crucial discussion on zero trust security model and evolving authentication strategies.
- AI and cybersecurity where experts discussed how generative AI is revolutionizing threat detection and all shed light on how it is being weaponized by bad actors.
ChiBrrCon also featured interactive villages which were dedicated areas where attendees could get a hands-on experience with security tools and challenges which provided valuable insight that no lecture could fully captured. I spent some time in the Red Team vs Blue Team Village where I got to simulate real-world attack and defense scenarios. It also provided ample networking opportunities as to build relationships.
Having attended ChiBrrCon V, I can say with confidence that this event isn’t just about learning but about building a community related to cybersecurity no matter the level. So, if cybersecurity also interests you then keep an eye and attend ChiBrrCon in 2026.
Reference: https://chibrrcon.com/