Black Hat is committed to positively impacting the cybersecurity community and the planet. Below are key sessions, features, partnerships, and resources that highlight Black Hat’s efforts to deliver a responsible and inclusive event.
To inspire sustainable development in the cybersecurity community, Black Hat is featuring Briefings, a Community Lounge, Community Sessions, Meet-Ups, and Networking Events that connect to sustainability, diversity, and inclusivity:
Diversity Micro Talks: This Briefing will comprise of three practical micro talks by cybersecurity industry leaders, including topics such as: Reducing Your Team's Energy Costs: An Inclusion Micro talk; Breaking Barriers: A Data-Centric Approach; and Microaggressions and Turnover: Three Ways to Reduce Quiet Quitting.
Ask the EFF Meet-Up: Join the Electronic Frontier Foundation - The leading non-profit fighting for civil liberties in the digital world - to chat about the latest developments in Tech and Law and how these can help each other to build a better future.
Community Lounge: Black Hat aims to provide a platform to discuss current issues on diversity and inclusion in the industry. One of the event's newest additions for 2023, the Community Lounge, will focus on a range of sessions, with topics pertaining to women and underrepresented groups within cybersecurity, the issues that they face, and solutions on how the industry can continue to strive to become a more diverse and inclusive community.
Climate Change and Cybersecurity: Building a Resilient Future Community Session: Join this session to explore the relationship between climate change, cybersecurity, and information security (infosec) in promoting environmental sustainability. Let's collectively explore solutions for a greener infosec industry and its contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The Startup Spotlight Competition provides startups the opportunity to showcase their product or solution in a competitive environment. The top four finalists will present their product or solution live at Black Hat USA 2023!
We host annual Student and Veteran Scholarship programs, as well as partner with organizations to expand accessibility to our event in the form of scholarships. This year, we have partnered with the following organizations on scholarships: Black Girls Hack, The Diana Initiative, The Executive Women's Forum, Women in Security and Privacy and Women's Society of Cyberjutsu
Black Hat USA 2023 is powered by 100% renewable electricity
Our venue, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center focuses on various sustainability initiatives, including extensive food waste management and renewable energy programs, powering 90% of their daytime energy usage onsite via their solar array
We partner with Mandalay Bay on energy efficiency measures to reduce event emissions
Mandalay Bay has an excellent waste management program, ensuring as much event materials as possible are either reused or recycled. All food waste is either donated to the local community or used as pig swill in local livestock farms
Officially beginning in 2022, Black Hat USA will no longer incorporate aisle floor carpet within the design of the Business Hall, in order to help minimize the environmental impact often associated with short-term usage of carpet. In 2023, this change has diverted approximately 209,416 square feet of carpet from being sent to the landfill.
We preference digital signage and encourage exhibitors and sponsors to think about sustainability in their procurement choices
Water refill stations are available throughout the convention center
Black Hat has developed a Code of Conduct and Sustainability Pledge to hold itself, our attendees, vendors and contractors accountable to deliver the best event experience possible
Pronoun ribbons will be available at Registration and there is an optional field on our mobile app to display pronouns
The following resources will be available to our attendees: a prayer room, mother's room, childcare, and open captioning for recorded content.
Limited accessible seating will be available in each of the Briefing and Sponsored Session rooms and is reserved with signage.
We work with a number of Conference Associates who dedicate their time to help ensure attendees have an excellent event experience. In return, they receive complimentary access to the event and the opportunity to network with the cyber community's biggest companies, often resulting in job opportunities.
We have partnered with Opportunity Village for kitting and assembly services for the Black Hat Attendee and CISO Summit Backpacks.
The Mandalay Bay Convention Center complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Hearing Capacity Act, and the regulations and guidelines.
Mandalay Bay has long and impactful relationships with the local community that we feed into, as they donate several event items to organizations like Three Squares Food Bank and Opportunity Village, as well as the Clark County School District.
