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

The conversation delves into the challenges of AI governance and accountability, highlighting the story of Agent B and the implications for managing AI agents. It explores the trust boundaries and decision-making processes in the context of agentic systems, providing valuable insights for organizations deploying AI agents.

Takeaways

• AI Governance
• Accountability

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to AI Governance
• 00:57 The Story of Agent B
• 03:19 Managing AI Agents
• 10:07 Trust Boundaries and Decision Making

The conversation explores the topic of residential proxies and their impact on cybersecurity, focusing on the research and insights shared by threat researcher David Brunsdon. It delves into the use of residential proxies, their risks, and the implications for enterprise environments.

Takeaways

• Residential proxies enable traffic to appear as though it comes from a normal home or business connection, posing significant risks to organizations.
• The use of residential proxies in cyber attacks, ad fraud, and botnet activities highlights the need for organizations to address this threat in their security policies.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Residential Proxies
• 04:40 Understanding Residential Proxies and Their Functionality
• 07:00 The Usefulness of Residential Proxies to Attackers
• 09:05 Real-World Risks of Residential Proxies in Enterprise Environments
• 11:33 Addressing Residential Proxies in Security Policies

JOIN US AT BSIDES VANCOUVER ISLAND 2026

BSides Vancouver Island is a community-driven, grassroots cybersecurity conference bringing together security practitioners, researchers, students, and technology enthusiasts to learn, connect, and share knowledge.

Friday, September 25, 2026
Victoria Conference Centre — Victoria, BC

This year marks our fifth anniversary*, with *two talk tracks for the first time.

🎟️ Tickets and conference details: https://bsidesvi.com

The conversation explores the importance of community in cybersecurity, highlighting the isolation of the profession, the power of community, building professional relationships, belonging in the community, participating in the community, low-pressure participation, panel discussion preview, the role of community in cybersecurity, and joining the cybersecurity community.

Takeaways

• Community is essential in cybersecurity
• Belonging in the community is valuable for career growth

Chapters

• 00:00 The Isolation of Cybersecurity
• 02:12 The Power of Community
• 03:00 Building Professional Relationships
• 04:20 Belonging in the Community
• 06:22 Participating in the Community
• 07:25 Low-Pressure Participation
• 08:15 Panel Discussion Preview
• 09:22 The Role of Community in Cybersecurity
• 12:12 Joining the Cybersecurity Community

Panelists:

• Ryan Clarke, Principal Incident Response Consultant, Mandiant (Google Cloud) — representing ISACA Vancouver Chapter, DC604, and VancitySec

• Roberto Salgado, Co-Founder and CEO, Websec — representing OWASP Victoria

• Parisa Saqib, Cybersecurity Analyst, BCIT — representing DMZ604
  
  JOIN US AT BSIDES VANCOUVER ISLAND 2026
  
  BSides Vancouver Island is a community-driven, grassroots cybersecurity conference bringing together security practitioners, researchers, students, and technology enthusiasts to learn, connect, and share knowledge.
  
  Friday, September 25, 2026
  Victoria Conference Centre — Victoria, BC
  
  This year marks our fifth anniversary*, with *two talk tracks for the first time.
  
  🎟️ Tickets and conference details: https://bsidesvi.com

The conversation delves into the world of evasive VPN clients and the Living Off the Tunnel project, shedding light on the real-world impact of these tools and the importance of defender awareness. Darren Smith, a threat research expert, shares insights into the development of the project and the significance of detecting evasive VPN tools.

Takeaways

• Evasive VPN clients can pose a significant threat to enterprise network security.
• Awareness and concrete strategies are crucial for defending against threats posed by evasive VPN tools.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Vancouver Island Security Research Society
• 01:36 Guest Introduction and Background
• 02:17 Path to Threat Research and Detection Engineering
• 04:05 Evasive VPN Clients and Living Off the Tunnel Project
• 06:14 Forensic Toolkit for Evasive VPN Clients
• 08:20 Real-World Impact of Evasive VPNs
• 09:38 AI Agents and Defender's Radar
• 10:06 Key Takeaways and Conclusion

JOIN US AT BSIDES VANCOUVER ISLAND 2026

BSides Vancouver Island is a community-driven, grassroots cybersecurity conference bringing together security practitioners, researchers, students, and technology enthusiasts to learn, connect, and share knowledge.

Friday, September 25, 2026
Victoria Conference Centre — Victoria, BC

This year marks our fifth anniversary*, with *two talk tracks for the first time.

🎟️ Tickets and conference details: https://bsidesvi.com

The conversation covers the BSides Vancouver Island Conference, Geoff's background in AI and cybersecurity, the impact of AI on cybersecurity, realistic threats of fully autonomous AI attacks, AI-powered worms, and preparing for AI-driven attacks.

Takeaways

• AI is changing the landscape of cybersecurity
• Security teams need to prepare for AI-driven attacks

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to B Sides Vancouver Island Conference
• 01:10 Jeff's Background and Interest in AI and Cybersecurity
• 02:30 Transition to AI and Machine Learning Team Leadership
• 03:24 Impact of AI on Cybersecurity and Transition to AI
• 04:24 Fully Autonomous AI Attacks and Realistic Threats
• 10:10 AI-Powered Worms and Their Impact
• 14:16 Preparing for AI-Driven Attacks

JOIN US AT BSIDES VANCOUVER ISLAND 2026

BSides Vancouver Island is a community-driven, grassroots cybersecurity conference bringing together security practitioners, researchers, students, and technology enthusiasts to learn, connect, and share knowledge.

Friday, September 25, 2026
Victoria Conference Centre — Victoria, BC

This year marks our fifth anniversary*, with *two talk tracks for the first time.

🎟️ Tickets and conference details: https://bsidesvi.com

Follow BSides Vancouver Island for speaker interviews, conference talks, workshops, and community content.