A leading international cybersecurity conference returns to the Cayman Islands next week.
Security BSides Cayman Islands 2025 will bring cutting-edge global expertise to explore how the islands can increase resilience against emerging cybersecurity threats.
Cybersecurity matters to everyone on the Cayman Islands – whether it’s Caymanians being targeted by cryptocurrency scams or regulators ensuring the jurisdiction remains safe for international businesses. That’s why the Security BSides Cayman Islands Conference is returning for the fourth consecutive year.
Security BSides is a global network of cybersecurity-focused conferences, explained RJ Sudlow, cybersecurity lead for Ember Lake and one of the conference directors.
“Here in Cayman we started one because we have a lot of companies needing to focus on cyber, so it’s a great thing to bring here,” said Sudlow in a recent appearance on Compass TV’s Daybreak show.
Given Cayman’s prominence as an international financial centre, robust cyber resilience is essential to maintain global business and regulatory confidence. Other offshore financial hubs, such as Singapore and Panama, have suffered damaging cyberattacks in recent years.
The three-day event, which will run from 17-19 Sept. at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, offers a mix of technical workshops, compliance talks and keynote presentations. Standout speakers include John Hammond, a cybersecurity expert from Huntress, and Katie Paxton Fear, a cybersecurity lecturer from Manchester Metropolitan University. According to the organisers, there will be more than 30 expert speakers and 200 attendees.
The conference comes as the islands face a growing threat of cybersecurity attacks, explained John Watson, head of cybercrime investigation at the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.
“It’s a horrible term but we call it pig butchering. And it’s a type of fraud we are seeing a significant rise in,” Watson said.
“Organised crime groups, predominantly from overseas, use romance and social engineering tactics to befriend individuals. Then, once they have their trust, they get them to invest in fake crypto currencies and, unfortunately, we have seen people lose quite a lot of money over that.”
Security BSides Cayman Islands 2025 also offers a great opportunity for Caymanians looking to enter the cybersecurity industry. Conference organisers are giving limited free tickets to cybersecurity students or jobseekers.
“The reason we bring in some of these speakers – who are best in their class – is so they can train our local populace by osmosis,” Sudlow said.
“Because at the end of the day, we are all here on an island and we have to fend for ourselves.”
For more information on the conference, including how to get tickets, contact [email protected].
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