Security BSides London
Security BSides London is a volunteer-run, community-driven cybersecurity conference founded in 2011 in London. It serves InfoSec professionals and enthusiasts through a free annual one-day event featuring talks, workshops, a rookie track, and hands-on villages, funded by corporate sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Security BSides London does
Security BSides London is a volunteer-run, community-driven cybersecurity conference founded in 2011 and held annually in London. It serves information security professionals, penetration testers, SOC analysts, security engineers, students, and enthusiasts, with a dedicated Rookie track supporting first-time speakers. The event is free to attend, with tickets distributed through Eventbrite in three phased releases, and is funded entirely by corporate sponsorships across Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Grassroots tiers.
The core product is a single-day conference featuring multiple presentation tracks (talks, workshops, rookie sessions) and a broad ecosystem of hands-on villages covering Car Hacking, Malware analysis, Lock Picking, OT security, RF, Quantum computing, Aerospace, InfoSec Battlebots, and Train Hacking. Operations are supported by pretalx (open-source CFP and scheduling software) and Eventbrite, with no proprietary technology stack developed or sold by the organization. Attendance reached a record 2,071 in 2025 at Novotel London West, making it one of the largest free InfoSec events in the UK and historically the third-best-attended BSides globally.
The business model is non-commercial. There is no ticket revenue, no paid product, and no paid headcount beyond a small volunteer organizing team of approximately five. Income is derived from sponsorship and optional grassroots donations; charitable proceeds (e.g., £10,050.01 raised for Cancer Research UK in 2025) are passed through and not retained. Go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth, mailing list, social channels, and cross-promotion across the global BSides network and affiliated London groups (2600 London, DC4420, OWASP London).
Security BSides London firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Security BSides London
- Legal name
- Security B-Sides London
- Website
- https://bsides.london
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Security BSides London is a volunteer-run, community-driven cybersecurity conference founded in 2011 in London. It serves InfoSec professionals and enthusiasts through a free annual one-day event featuring talks, workshops, a rookie track, and hands-on villages, funded by corporate sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Security BSides London industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity Conferences
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cybersecurity Learning Platforms (EDAFANAF)
Keywords
Where Security BSides London is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Security BSides London business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations
Revenue model
- Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors fund the event at various tiers (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Grassroots). Sponsorship revenue enables the conference to remain free for attendees. Grassroots sponsorship at £100 includes a guaranteed ticket and event swag.
- Donations to Cancer Research UK: Optional charitable donations collected during ticket registration. In 2025, the community raised £10,050.01 through raffles and sticker stalls. Donations are voluntary and separate from the free ticket.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free general admission ticket |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Security BSides London product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Security BSides London organizes a free, community-driven annual cybersecurity conference in London featuring multiple talk tracks (main, workshops, rookie), hands-on interactive villages (Car Hacking, Lock Picking, Malware, OT, RF, Quantum, Train Hacking), and networking opportunities for InfoSec professionals and enthusiasts. The event is volunteer-organized and funded through corporate sponsorships and optional charitable donations to Cancer Research UK.
Product overview
Security BSides London is a community-driven information security conference organized by volunteers. The core offering is the annual BSides London conference featuring multiple presentation tracks (main talks, workshops, and the rookie track for first-time speakers). The event includes hands-on 'Villages' covering specialized topics like car hacking, lock picking, malware analysis, OT security, RF/radio, quantum computing, battlebots, and train hacking. The conference operates through an open Call for Papers process managed via pretalx.com, with separate submission tracks for standard talks, workshops, and rookie speakers. Tickets are free and distributed through Eventbrite. An optional Grass Roots Sponsorship (£100) is available for those wishing to financially support the event while receiving a guaranteed ticket.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BSides London Annual Conference
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 200 CFP proposals received in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Security BSides London
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Security BSides London technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Security BSides London partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
34 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Push SecurityminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Push Security provides browser security solutions.
- AdobeminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Adobe participates through its security bug bounty program.
- Endor LabsminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Endor Labs focuses on open source security and dependency management.
- Jane StreetminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Jane Street is a quantitative trading firm.
- J.P. Morgan ChaseminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. J.P. Morgan Chase sponsors to engage with the cybersecurity talent community.
- WizminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Wiz provides cloud security solutions.
- ActiveFenceminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. ActiveFence provides content moderation and trust and safety solutions.
- AnthropicminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Anthropic develops AI safety and research.
- TenableminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Tenable provides exposure management and vulnerability management solutions.
- TinesminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Tines provides security automation and SOAR solutions.
- SocketminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Socket provides software supply chain security solutions.
- FlareminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Flare provides digital risk protection and threat intelligence.
- IntigritiminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Intigriti operates a bug bounty and vulnerability disclosure platform.
- Black Hills InfoSecminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Black Hills InfoSec provides penetration testing and security training.
- Swansea UniversityminorSponsor of BSides London 2025. Higher education institution engaging with cybersecurity community.
- Copper HorseminorRuns the Car Hacking Village at BSides London 2025. Brings car hacking simulator rig with real CANbus network for educational demonstrations.
- Bristol LocksportminorCo-runs the Lock Picking Village with Moon on A Stick Lock Picking and Cold Brew Coffee Emporium.
- Malware VillageminorVillage organizer hosting malware analysis talks, workshops, and contests including MARC I, BOMBE, and EMYAC competitions.
- Quantum VillageminorVillage focused on exposing attendees to quantum technologies and raising quantum literacy in the tech security world.
- Cancer Research UKminorDesignated charity partner. BSides London raises funds through raffles, sticker stalls, and optional donations during ticket registration. £10,050.01 raised in 2025.
- AWSminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. Amazon Web Services cloud platform.
- DradisminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. Dradis provides security reporting and collaboration platform.
- GitGuardianminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. GitGuardian provides secrets detection for developers.
- GraylogminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. Graylog provides log management and SIEM solutions.
- PlexTracminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. PlexTrac provides penetration testing reporting and collaboration software.
- WithSecureminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. WithSecure provides managed security and consulting services.
- Vectra AIminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. Vectra AI provides AI-powered network threat detection and response.
- ArmorCodeminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. ArmorCode provides AppSec and vulnerability management.
- Orange CyberdefenseminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. Orange Cyberdefense is a managed security services provider.
- WatchTowrminorSponsor of BSides London 2024. WatchTowr provides continuous security testing and threat exposure management.
- Computer Network Defence (CND)minorSponsor of BSides London 2024. UK-based cybersecurity training and services provider.
- BSides ExeterminorCommunity sponsor. BSides Exeter is another UK-based BSides event, part of the global BSides network.
- Aerospace VillageminorCommunity sponsor. Volunteer team of hackers, pilots, and policy advisors building aerospace cybersecurity expertise. Runs interactive activities at the event.
- Train Hacking VillageminorCommunity sponsor. An independently organized village featuring an autonomous model railway with working signalling system, CTF platform, and over 75 sensors.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Security BSides London competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Steelcon: A Sheffield-based UK InfoSec conference described as the North's premier hacking conference. Highly comparable as another UK community-organized event with talks, villages, and community activities aimed at the same security practitioner audience.
- Hack Glasgow: Glasgow-based community InfoSec event featuring talks, villages, and hands-on activities for both newcomers and experienced hackers. Directly comparable in scope and audience to BSides London.
- BSides Birmingham: UK BSides chapter focused on the Midlands InfoSec community. Operates the same community-organized, volunteer-run conference model and is part of the BSides UK network alongside BSides London.
- BSides Manchester: UK BSides chapter serving Manchester and the North West InfoSec community. Directly comparable in format, mission, and funding model, and a peer in BSides London's UK cross-promotion and sponsor-sharing ecosystem.
- BSides Bristol: UK-based BSides chapter serving the South West England InfoSec community. Operates the same volunteer-run, community-organized, free-to-attend conference model as BSides London and is part of the same UK cross-promotion network.
- BSides Las Vegas: The flagship BSides event held annually during DEF CON week. Directly comparable as the largest and best-attended BSides conference, serving the same community-driven, free-to-attend InfoSec model that BSides London replicates in the UK.
Broad incumbents
- DEF CON: The largest global hacker and InfoSec community conference. A much larger scale incumbent that shares BSides London's grassroots, community-driven philosophy, but operates as a paid, multi-track US-based event with broader scope.
- Black Hat USA: Major commercial cybersecurity conference with a strong US footprint and an extensive sponsor ecosystem. A broader incumbent whose corporate-tier sponsors (Tenable, CrowdStrike-class) overlap with BSides London's sponsor base, but with a paid, vendor-driven model rather than community-run.
Regional players
- OWASP London: London chapter of OWASP running application security meetups and events. Operates in the same London InfoSec community as BSides London and is explicitly cited as a partner group, but focuses on AppSec rather than a multi-domain conference.
Emerging players
- 2600 London: Monthly London meetup tied to the global 2600 hacker community. Adjacent in audience and ethos (grassroots security community gathering) but operates as a recurring small meetup rather than an annual conference; cited as a community partner on BSides London's links page.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Security BSides London social profiles
Digital presenceSecurity BSides London financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Security BSides London leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Security BSides London funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Security BSides London M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Security BSides London
What does Security BSides London do?
Security BSides London organizes a free, community-driven annual cybersecurity conference in London featuring multiple talk tracks (main, workshops, rookie), hands-on interactive villages (Car Hacking, Lock Picking, Malware, OT, RF, Quantum, Train Hacking), and networking opportunities for InfoSec professionals and enthusiasts. The event is volunteer-organized and funded through corporate sponsorships and optional charitable donations to Cancer Research UK.
Is Security BSides London a public or private company?
Security BSides London is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Security BSides London founded?
Security BSides London was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Security BSides London based?
Security BSides London is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Security BSides London make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are donations to Cancer Research UK.
Who are Security BSides London's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Steelcon, Hack Glasgow, BSides Birmingham, BSides Manchester, BSides Bristol and BSides Las Vegas. Broad incumbents are DEF CON and Black Hat USA. OWASP London is listed as a regional player. 2600 London is listed as an emerging player.
Does Security BSides London have an API?
No public API is recorded for Security BSides London.
What industry is Security BSides London in?
Security BSides London's product category is Cybersecurity Conferences. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFANAF, Cybersecurity Learning Platforms. Its NAICS code is 813.