Get a rapid fire preview of the ideas, people and conversations coming to BSides Vancouver Island 2026.

In this final speaker-highlight compilation, hear from researchers, defenders, builders and community leaders tackling the issues shaping cybersecurity today: AI and agentic systems, identity, network defence, software supply-chain risk, emerging threats and the practical work of keeping organizations secure.

But BSidesVI is about more than the talks. It is a grassroots, community-driven event where security professionals, students, researchers, technology leaders, and people who are simply curious can learn, connect, share experience, and help strengthen the cybersecurity community on Vancouver Island and beyond.

A huge thank-you to every speaker, volunteer, attendee, organizer and sponsor helping make this conference possible. Your support is what turns BSidesVI from a conference into a community.

Join us this Friday, September 25, at the Victoria Conference Centre. Come hear the full talks, meet the speakers, reconnect with colleagues, make new connections and be part of the conversation.

🎟️ Tickets, schedule, and event details: http://bsidesvi.com

#BSidesVI #Cybersecurity #InfoSec #VictoriaBC #VancouverIsland #SecurityResearch #AISecurity #CyberSecurityCommunity

Our volunteer Director at Large, Steven Pellerin, explores the use of AI in cybersecurity and the concept of a security harness with Michael Argast. It delves into the challenges of implementing AI, the importance of human-in-the-loop controls, and the role of community events in learning and sharing knowledge.

Takeaways

• Security harness: AI requires a structured approach to ensure predictable and reliable outcomes.
• Human-in-the-loop: Human oversight and controls are essential for AI to work with sensitive client data.
• Community learning: Participation in community events and learning from experts is valuable for small organizations in the cybersecurity space.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to AI in Cybersecurity
• 01:37 B-Sides Vancouver Island 2026 Conference
• 03:00 The Concept of a Security Harness
• 06:05 Human-in-the-Loop Controls for AI
• 15:27 AI in Small Organizations

The conversation explores the challenges and risks associated with agentic AI and the need for a multi-layered defense approach, drawing parallels to the Thedosian Walls of Constantinople. It delves into the rise of non-human identities, the uniqueness and risk of AI agents, and the complexities of securing agentic AI in organizations.

Takeaways

• Defense in depth is crucial for securing agentic AI
• Understanding and controlling AI agents is essential for organizational security

Chapters

• 00:00 The Thedosian Walls of Constantinople
• 01:37 Introduction to B-Sides Vancouver Island 2026
• 03:22 The Rise of Non-Human Identities
• 04:51 The Uniqueness and Risk of AI Agents
• 05:40 Risks and Challenges of Agentic AI
• 09:48 The Thedosian Walls of 2026: Defense in Depth
• 10:13 Building Thedosian Layers for AI Security
• 13:34 Detecting and Understanding Deployed AI Agents