Security Bsides Community Events And Free Access Opportunities

Jan. 30, 2026, 8:28 a.m.

Tags: bsides

The Security BSides community represents a global framework for organizing information security conferences that prioritize accessibility, collaboration, and practical knowledge sharing. According to the Security BSides Community Home, these events are community-driven frameworks built "for and by information security community members" with the goal of expanding conversations beyond traditional conference limitations. The model emerged from practical necessity—after numerous quality speaker rejections to the Black Hat USA 2009 Call for Papers due to space and time constraints rather than content quality, the BSides movement was born to provide alternative platforms for knowledge exchange.

As of May 2024, the BSides network has grown to include 960 events held across 239 cities in 63 countries, demonstrating the widespread adoption of this community-driven approach to security education. The fundamental philosophy centers on removing barriers to participation, creating intimate atmospheres that encourage collaboration, and providing opportunities for both presenting and participating in discussions, demos, and interactive sessions.

Understanding BSidesOK: Oklahoma's Premier Security Conference

BSidesOK represents the Oklahoma iteration of this global community framework, positioning itself as the "premier security conference for the state of Oklahoma." The event draws speakers from across the United States and attendees from several surrounding states, creating a regional hub for security professionals and enthusiasts. Scheduled for April 8-10, 2026, BSidesOK is hosted at the Glenpool Conference Center in Glenpool, Oklahoma, located just southwest of Tulsa.

The conference operates as a completely non-profit and volunteer-driven organization. This structure is fundamental to understanding the BSides model—it relies entirely on community support, sponsorships, and volunteer efforts to function. The event focuses on practical, hands-on training for improving security, with an emphasis on "practical, in-the-trenches information security" content rather than theoretical presentations.

Free Access and Participation Models

The BSides framework is specifically designed to create accessible entry points for participation. Unlike traditional security conferences that often require substantial registration fees, BSides events maintain lower barriers to attendance and engagement. The community-driven nature means that events are structured to be affordable and accessible, though specific pricing details for BSidesOK 2026 are not provided in the available documentation.

The "free stuff" aspect of BSides events relates to several dimensions of the experience:

Knowledge Sharing Without Traditional Barriers

The BSides model removes the constraints that limit traditional conferences. Rather than operating within rigid eight-hour daily schedules and limited presentation slots, BSides creates multiple opportunities for knowledge exchange. This includes discussions, demonstrations, and interactive sessions where participants can engage directly with content and speakers.

Speaker Opportunities

The Call for Papers (CFP) process for BSidesOK 2026 is currently open, providing a free platform for security professionals to share their expertise. Unlike conferences where speaking slots are limited by commercial considerations, BSides prioritizes content quality and community relevance. Speakers interested in presenting at BSidesOK can submit proposals through the official channels, with a focus on practical, hands-on information security topics.

Community Participation

The intimate atmosphere created by BSides events encourages active participation from attendees. This collaborative environment allows for deeper engagement with security topics than might be possible in larger, more formal conference settings. Participants have opportunities to interact with speakers, join discussions, and contribute to the evolving security conversation.

Event Structure and Community Governance

BSides events follow a community-driven governance model. The framework provides resources and guidelines for organizing local events while maintaining the core principles of accessibility and collaboration. For BSidesOK specifically, the organization depends on sponsorships and community support to operate each year.

The event maintains a Code of Conduct that ensures "everyone deserves to attend a learning event, community or professional, with a reasonable expectation of good behavior." This commitment to creating a safe, respectful environment is part of the free and accessible nature of the BSides experience.

Sponsorship and Sustainability

While BSides events aim to be accessible to participants, they require financial support to operate. BSidesOK depends on sponsorships to fund the event each year. The organization provides sponsor kits and information about sponsorship opportunities for businesses and individuals interested in supporting the community. This sponsorship model allows the event to remain accessible to attendees while maintaining quality programming.

Historical Context and Global Expansion

The BSides movement originated from a specific frustration within the security community. As documented in the Security BSides Community Home, "BSides was born out of number of rejections to the CFP for Black Hat USA 2009. A number of quality speakers were rejected, not due to lack of content but lack of space and time." This origin story highlights the movement's commitment to removing barriers that prevent valuable security knowledge from reaching the community.

The rapid growth from this single point of origin to nearly 1,000 events worldwide demonstrates the pent-up demand for alternative security conference formats. The community has established systems to help new organizers launch BSides events in cities that don't yet have them, providing guidelines, resources, and support to expand the network.

Practical Information for Oklahoma Security Professionals

For security professionals in Oklahoma and surrounding states, BSidesOK 2026 represents a significant opportunity for professional development and community building. The event's location at the Glenpool Conference Center provides a accessible venue for regional attendees. The conference dates of April 8-10, 2026, offer three days of intensive security content.

The focus on "practical, in-the-trenches information security" suggests that attendees can expect actionable knowledge rather than theoretical discussions. This aligns with the broader BSides philosophy of creating opportunities for real-world skill development and knowledge sharing.

Accessing BSidesOK Information and Participation

Individuals interested in attending BSidesOK 2026, speaking at the event, or learning more about sponsorship opportunities can access information through the official BSidesOK channels. The event maintains information about the Code of Conduct, sponsorship opportunities, and speaker submission processes through its official website.

For those looking to organize BSides events in other locations, the Security BSides Community provides resources and guidance. Interested organizers can contact the community to schedule conversations about rules, guidelines, and event organization support.

Community Impact and Value Proposition

The BSides model provides tangible value to the security community by creating spaces where emerging topics can be discussed, new speakers can develop their skills, and practitioners can share real-world experiences. The intimate format encourages conversations that might not occur in larger, more formal conference settings.

This value extends beyond the immediate event participants. By creating a sustainable model for community-driven security education, BSides contributes to the overall improvement of security practices across the industry. The hands-on, practical focus ensures that knowledge shared at these events translates into improved security postures for organizations and individuals.

The global network of BSides events also creates opportunities for knowledge transfer across geographic boundaries. Speakers and topics that prove valuable in one location can be shared through the broader BSides community, creating a collaborative ecosystem for security education.

Conclusion

The Security BSides community represents an innovative approach to security conference organization that prioritizes accessibility, practical knowledge sharing, and community collaboration. BSidesOK 2026, scheduled for April 8-10 in Glenpool, Oklahoma, embodies these principles as the state's premier security conference. By operating as a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dependent on community support, BSidesOK maintains low barriers to participation while delivering high-quality, practical security content. The event provides opportunities for both speakers and attendees to engage with the security community in meaningful ways, continuing the global BSides tradition of removing traditional conference barriers and creating space for important security conversations. For Oklahoma security professionals and those in surrounding states, BSidesOK 2026 offers a unique opportunity for professional development, community building, and practical skill enhancement.