In 2009, a small group of cybersecurity professionals found themselves at a crossroads. Their talk proposals had been turned down from Black Hat—not because they weren’t good, but simply because there wasn’t enough room. Rather than letting their voices go unheard, they took a bold step: they created their own space. That space became Security BSides, a grassroots movement that quickly spread across the globe, giving hackers, researchers, and security enthusiasts a platform to share ideas in an open, collaborative environment. BSides grew from a single event in Las Vegas to a worldwide phenomenon, shaping cybersecurity communities while holding onto its core values of inclusivity, accessibility, and grassroots engagement.
South Africa joined this global conversation in 2011 with BSides Cape Town, bringing together professionals, ethical hackers, students, and security enthusiasts for hands-on learning and deep discussions. (If you’re curious about how BSides Cape Town got started, you can read more here.)
At the same time, another community-driven conference, ZACON, launched in 2009, later evolving into 0xCON. Unlike larger, sponsor-backed conferences, ZACON and 0xCON ran on a completely independent model, initially free to attend but limited in scale due to venue and marketing constraints. 0xCON started at Gold Reef City, moved to Regenesys Business School, and eventually found a home at MTN, where it continues today.
For years, discussions floated through the halls of Johannesburg’s cybersecurity circles: What if we had a well-supported large-scale, sponsor-supported hacker conference in Joburg, all while maintaining a non-profit structure? What if we had something that could pay for professional recordings, expanded marketing efforts, swag, and reaching a broader audience? The answer was clear – BSides, it’s global charter and name recognition allows for sponsorships while preserving the integrity of a community-driven, not-for-profit event.
BSides Joburg was officially founded by Jared Naude, who spearheaded the initiative to bring the event to life. In early 2024, BSides Joburg was registered as a non-profit company (BSides Joburg NPC), with Michael Rodger and Ivan Burke joining Jared Naude as directors. In alignment with the BSides Global charter, all funds received are reinvested in the event, and no organizers, directors, or volunteers receive financial compensation beyond direct expense reimbursements, as outlined in the our code of ethics.
Now, the cybersecurity community in Johannesburg is preparing for something new. Later this year, BSides Joburg will host its inaugural event at the Focus Rooms in Johannesburg, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the local cybersecurity community.
