
Cobalt Named Winner of the Coveted Global InfoSec Awards during RSA Conference 2025
'This recognition by Cyber Defense Magazine speaks to the success of our Cobalt Offensive Security Platform, along with the exceptional expertise of our global community of pentesters and the critical role they play in helping organizations stay ahead of evolving threats,' said Gunter Ollmann, CTO, Cobalt. 'As offensive security continues to evolve, we're proud to be leading the charge—especially in pioneering new approaches to testing AI and LLM applications. Our focus remains on empowering customers with cutting-edge insights and innovation that make a real impact.'
Cyber Defense Magazine honors innovators of all sizes and stages across the global information security space. These awards recognize cybersecurity companies with the most unique and compelling value propositions—whether in their leadership, products, or services. Winners are selected by a panel of certified security professionals, including CISSP, FMDHS, and CEH holders, based on their independent review of each company.
'We scoured the globe looking for cybersecurity innovators that could make a huge difference and potentially help turn the tide against the exponential growth in cybercrime. Cobalt is absolutely worthy of these coveted awards and consideration for deployment in your environment,' said Yan Ross, Global Editor of Cyber Defense Magazine.
The Cobalt Platform stood out among the competition for its strong focus on offensive security and PTaaS. The Cobalt Platform centralizes access to security services from its team of pentesters, making it easier to find and fix vulnerabilities across environments. It enables faster pentest launches, real-time collaboration with testers, and seamless integration with remediation workflows–helping organizations identify critical issues and prevent security incidents.
About Cyber Defense Magazine
Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of cyber security news and information for InfoSec professions in business and government. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products, and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and special editions exclusively for the RSA Conferences. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group. Learn more about us at Cyber Defense Magazine and visit https://www.cyberdefensetv.com and https://www.cyberdefenseradio.com to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives. Join a webinar at https://www.cyberdefensewebinars.com and realize that infosec knowledge is power.
About Cobalt
Cobalt is the pioneer in pentesting as a service (PTaaS) and a leader in offensive security services. We are focused on combining talent and technology with speed, scalability, and expertise. Thousands of customers and hundreds of partners rely on the Cobalt Offensive Security Platform, along with 450+ trusted security experts, to find and fix vulnerabilities across their environments. By enabling faster pentest launches, real-time collaboration with pentesters, and seamless integration with remediation workflows, we help organizations identify critical issues and accelerate risk mitigation so they can operate fearlessly and innovate securely.
Cobalt maintains an outstanding NPS of 9.12, reflecting its dedication to customer satisfaction. Read our reviews on G2 to see why customers love us. More at https://www.cobalt.io/. Follow Cobalt on LinkedIn and X.
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Time Business News
2 days ago
- Time Business News
Nationwide Truck Parts: Affordable Used Diesel Engines
For truck owners and fleet managers looking for reliable yet budget-friendly engine solutions, Nationwide Truck Parts offers an excellent selection of affordable used diesel engines, including the popular Detroit DD15. With rising costs in the trucking industry, finding high-quality pre-owned engines can make a significant difference in maintaining profitability without sacrificing performance. Whether you need a replacement engine for a single truck or are sourcing parts for an entire fleet, Nationwide Truck Parts provides cost-effective solutions backed by rigorous quality standards. Purchasing a brand-new diesel engine can be a substantial financial burden, especially for small operators or fleets working with tight budgets. Used diesel engines from reputable suppliers like Nationwide Truck Parts offer a practical alternative, delivering comparable performance at a fraction of the cost. These engines are carefully inspected, tested, and reconditioned to ensure they meet industry standards, making them a smart investment for businesses looking to maximize value without compromising reliability. Among the many diesel engines available, the Detroit DD15 remains a top choice for its balance of power, efficiency, and durability. Known for its advanced turbo-compounding technology, the DD15 recovers wasted energy to improve fuel economy—a critical factor in long-haul operations. With horsepower ranging from 455 to 505 and impressive torque output, this engine is built to handle heavy loads while maintaining optimal performance. For truckers seeking a dependable used engine, the DD15 is a standout option. Not all used engines are created equal, and Nationwide Truck Parts ensures that every diesel engine in their inventory meets strict quality benchmarks. Each unit undergoes a thorough inspection, including compression tests, oil pressure checks, and electronic diagnostics. Worn or damaged components are replaced with high-quality parts, and the engine is tested under load conditions to verify performance. This meticulous process guarantees that customers receive an engine that runs smoothly and reliably. One of the biggest advantages of buying a used diesel engine is the significant cost savings compared to purchasing new. Nationwide Truck Parts offers competitively priced engines, allowing businesses to allocate funds to other critical areas like maintenance, driver wages, or fleet expansion. Despite the lower price point, these engines are built to last, providing excellent longevity when properly maintained. For fleet managers looking to reduce expenses without sacrificing performance, used engines present an ideal solution. Beyond the Detroit DD15, Nationwide Truck Parts carries a broad range of used diesel engines to suit various truck models and applications. Whether you need a Cummins ISX, PACCAR MX-13, or another reliable engine, their inventory includes options for different horsepower and torque requirements. This variety ensures that customers can find the perfect engine match for their specific needs, whether for regional hauling, heavy-duty freight, or vocational trucks. Downtime is one of the most costly challenges in the trucking industry, and Nationwide Truck Parts understands the urgency of getting vehicles back on the road. They offer fast shipping options and maintain a well-stocked inventory to ensure quick delivery across the country. Whether you need an engine replacement immediately or are planning ahead for scheduled maintenance, their efficient logistics network minimizes delays and keeps operations running smoothly. Choosing the right used engine can be overwhelming, especially for those unfamiliar with diesel engine specifications. Nationwide Truck Parts provides expert guidance to help customers make informed decisions. Their knowledgeable team can answer technical questions, recommend the best engine for specific applications, and even assist with warranty details. This level of support ensures that buyers feel confident in their purchase and get an engine that meets their exact requirements. To provide additional peace of mind, Nationwide Truck Parts offers warranty coverage on many of their used diesel engines. While terms may vary based on the engine's condition and mileage, having warranty protection helps safeguard against unforeseen issues. This commitment to customer satisfaction demonstrates their confidence in the quality and reliability of their products, making them a trusted supplier in the industry. Selecting the best used diesel engine depends on several factors, including your truck's make and model, typical load requirements, and desired fuel efficiency. Nationwide Truck Parts can help match you with the ideal engine based on your specific needs. Providing details about your truck's usage, such as average mileage and hauling demands, will help their team recommend the most suitable option for optimal performance and longevity. With a reputation for quality, affordability, and exceptional customer service, Nationwide Truck Parts has become a go-to source for used diesel engines. Their commitment to rigorous inspections, competitive pricing, and fast shipping makes them a reliable partner for truck owners and fleet managers alike. When it's time to replace or upgrade an engine, choosing Nationwide Truck Parts ensures you get a dependable, cost-effective solution that keeps your business moving forward. Investing in a used diesel engine from Nationwide Truck Parts is a smart financial decision for trucking professionals who want reliability without the high cost of new equipment. With engines like the Detroit DD15 available at affordable prices, businesses can maintain efficiency and performance while staying within budget. Backed by thorough inspections, expert support, and warranty options, Nationwide Truck Parts provides the confidence and value needed in today's competitive trucking industry. Whether you're an owner-operator or manage a large fleet, their used diesel engines offer a practical and economical solution for keeping your trucks on the road. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Fortune Minerals Reports Additional Cobalt, Gold & Copper Process Optimization Validation for the NICO Project
The Alberta Hydrometallurgical Facility will process a bulk concentrate produced at the NICO mine and concentrator in the NWT, and other feed sources that the Company has identified. Concentrate from the NWT will be repulped, reground to minus 14 microns, and floated into separate gold-bearing cobalt and bismuth concentrates. The cobalt concentrate will be blended with the leach residue from the bismuth circuit after bismuth has been recovered in order to capture the contained gold in one process stream. The blend will then be fed into an autoclave with oxygen for processing by Pressure Oxidation (" POX ") to dissolve the contained cobalt and copper in an autothermic reaction that also contributes acid. Recent test work successfully confirmed the 2008 pilot-validated POX conditions at the design feed grade and for a low cobalt grade feed variability condition. Extractions were 97% for cobalt and 74% for copper at the design feed grade vs. 95% for cobalt in the 2008 pilot plant. Extractions using an off-specification low-grade cobalt feed confirmed the previous 95% cobalt recovery and 79% for copper. The NICO Project consists of a planned mine and concentrator in the Northwest Territories (" NWT ") and a hydrometallurgical process facility in Lamont County, Alberta where concentrates from the mine, and other feed sources, will be processed to value-added products for the energy transition, new technologies, and defence industries. Development of the NICO Project will provide a reliable North American vertically integrated supply of cobalt sulphate, gold doré, bismuth ingots, and copper cement, thereby enhancing the domestic production of three critical minerals, plus 1.1 million ounces of in-situ gold as a countercyclical co-product to mitigate metal price volatility. LONDON, Ontario, July 22, 2025 --( BUSINESS WIRE )-- Fortune Minerals Limited (TSX: FT) (OTCQB: FTMDF) (" Fortune " or the " Company ") ( ) is pleased to report additional process optimization test work validation for the NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper critical minerals project in Canada (" NICO Project "). The test work was completed at SGS Canada Inc. (" SGS ") in Lakefield, Ontario and proved additional enhancements to the cobalt, gold and copper circuits and recoveries for the planned Alberta Hydrometallurgical Facility, expanding on the improvements already announced for the mill, concentrator and bismuth circuits (see January 8 and May 9, 2025, news releases). The Process Design Criteria have been compiled and delivered to Worley Canada Services Ltd. (" Worley ") for engineering evaluation and incorporation into the Company's updated Feasibility Study in progress. Story Continues Liquid / Solid separation of the autoclave POX discharge was proven to be unnecessary, allowing for streamlining of the previous 2008 flowsheet and significantly lower the capital and operating costs. The entire autoclave discharge slurry will now be subjected to non-oxidative pre-neutralization and will no longer require the addition of oxygen or heating, and the residence time has been reduced to 0.5 hours as compared to the 5 hours with heat, oxygen and a hydrogen peroxide finish in the 2008 pilot. This simplified pre-neutralization process also effectively removed 99% of the arsenic contaminant without any cobalt losses from co-precipitation or entrapment and eliminated the need for a re-leach step that was also part of the previous 2008 flow sheet. Similar results were achieved using limestone or lime as the neutralization reagent, allowing for process design and cost flexibility. Gold recoveries from the combined autoclave leach residue using the more direct process optimization were also higher, ranging between 97% and 98% compared to 95% recoveries using the 2008 pilot demonstrated targets. Further study of the gold deportation during flotation for the NWT concentrator also identified losses to the cleaner scavenger tails when processing higher gold content ores. These tails can be selectively stockpiled at the mine site for subsequent processing at the Alberta Hydrometallurgical Facility. Leaching tests carried out at SGS verified that about 83% of the gold contained in these tails can be recovered using the same process conditions and equipment that will be installed to recover the bulk of the gold contained in the autoclave leach residue. However, inclusion of this gold stream would reduce the combined gold recovery from 98% to 95% - the same recovery indicated in the 2008 pilot. Pre-neutralized autoclave Pregnant Leach Solution ("PLS") that was separated from the gold plant feed residue was subjected to copper cementation tests and confirmed that a polishing step will no longer be required. Secondary neutralization of the copper cementation process indicated complete removal of iron and arsenic from the discharge regardless of using air or oxygen and will not require heating as a further improvement. Selective precipitation of a gypsum by-product could not be achieved with arsenic concentrations below 30 parts per million ("ppm"), exceeding the upper limits for the products Fortune had identified for potential sale. Production of a gypsum by-product has therefore been deferred until the Company identifies an alternative market for this material. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure ("TCLP") and Acid Base Accounting ("ABA") abatement tests were carried out on the gold leach discharge residues generated from the autoclave and the cleaner scavenger tails, both individually, and when they were combined. Tests confirm they are not leachate toxic and can be deposited in a government approved Class 2 landfill. Fortune expects to complete its optimization validation test work next month after verifying the cobalt PLS manganese removal, Solvent-Extraction ("S-X") purification step, and evaporation and crystallization conditions for a high purity cobalt sulphate heptahydrate product for the lithium-ion rechargeable battery industry. "We are very pleased with the results of the process optimization test work, which continues to exceed the Company's expectations and support higher metal recoveries and a potential material reduction in the capital and operating cost for the Company's planned Alberta Hydrometallurgical Facility," stated Robin Goad. Fortune's President and CEO. Government Support Fortune is working closely with the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta and the Government of the United States to expand North American critical minerals production and enhance domestic supply chain resilience and security. The Company has been awarded ~C$17 million of non-dilutive contribution funding from the U.S. Department of Defense through its Defense Production Act Title III program, Natural Resources Canada's Global Partnerships Initiative and Critical Minerals Research Development and Demonstration programs, and Alberta Innovates Clean Resource Intake program. These funds are helping Fortune complete metallurgical improvements, updated Feasibility and Front-End Engineering and Design ("FEED") studies, and secure the remaining permits needed to finance, construct and operate the NICO Project (see news releases dated, May 16, 2024, and December 5, 2023). China has effectively cornered the supply for many critical minerals through a decades-long policy of proactive strategic investment in mines and mid- and down-stream processing, financed with low-cost loans from its sovereign banks. Western democratic governments have now recognized the risks associated with critical mineral supply disruptions from this dominance and are investing in domestic production and collaboration among countries with fair trade practices. At the recent G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, world leaders agreed on strategies to strengthen critical minerals supply. " Non-market policies and practices in the critical minerals sector threaten our ability to acquire many critical minerals ", the draft statement said. " Recognizing this threat to our economies, as well as various other risks to the resilience of our critical minerals supply chains, we will work together and with partners beyond the G7 to swiftly protect our economic and national security." Following the summit, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney also commented, "We will create a critical minerals production alliance, a G7-led strategic initiative to stockpile and develop critical minerals needed for defence and technology". The G7 agreed to work together to anticipate critical minerals shortages, coordinate responses to deliberate market disruption, and diversify mining, processing, manufacturing, and recycling. Further to this commitment to shore up critical mineral supplies, Carney said Canada can in part meet its potential annual $150 billion NATO spending obligation with investment in extracting, processing and exporting Canada's critical minerals to allies that will count towards the 5% of GDP target. About Fortune's Metals The Minerals Reserves for the NICO Project contain four payable metals, including cobalt, gold, bismuth and copper. The Alberta Hydrometallurgical Facility will be a mid-stream process plant to produce value-added products with supply chain transparency and custody control of the contained metals. Fortune's cobalt production is targeting the rapidly expanding lithium-ion rechargeable battery industry needed to power electric vehicles, portable electronics and stationary storage cells. Cobalt is also used in aerospace superalloys, permanent magnets, cutting tools, cemented carbides, catalysts and pigments. The annual cobalt market is ~245,000 metric tonnes and is anticipated to grow to ~350,000 metric tonnes by 2030. The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces ~78% of global cobalt mine production, more than 60% of which is controlled by Chinese companies, which also control ~83% of refinery production and ~93% of the production of cobalt chemicals. Bismuth's unique physical and chemical properties are difficult to substitute with other metals, and the NICO Project is the largest known deposit in the world with 12% of global reserves. Bismuth is used in automotive glass and steel coatings, paints and pigments, and brake pads. It is also used to make low melting temperature and dimensionally stable alloys and compounds, fire suppressant systems, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Bismuth consumption is increasing as an environmentally safe and non-toxic replacement for lead in brass, solder, free machining steel and aluminum, galvanizing alloys, glass, ceramic glazes, and ammunition. Bismuth-tin alloy is used to make environmentally safe plugs to properly seal decommissioned oil and gas wells. Bismuth is also used in high performance semiconductors, solders for artificial intelligence data centers, and supercomputers. Manganese-bismuth magnets are resistant to demagnetization from heat. In the nuclear industry, bismuth is used for radiation shielding, coolants in some reactor designs, and it is a collector for plutonium in fuel re-processing and enrichment. China controls ~80% of current bismuth mine production and ~90% of refinery supply in an annual market of ~23,000 metric tonnes growing at ~7.5% CAGR. About the NICO Project Fortune has expended approximately C$145 million to advance the NICO Project from an in-house mineral discovery to a near construction-ready development asset with environmental assessment approval and the major mine permits already secured in the NWT. NICO and the Company's nearby Sue-Dianne copper deposit are IOCG-type mineral deposits with multiple payable metals, reducing the Company's vulnerability to price volatility or market manipulation. The Open Pit and Underground Mineral Reserves for the NICO deposit contain 33.1 million metric tonnes of ore containing 1.1 million ounces of gold, 82.3 million pounds of cobalt, 102.1 million pounds of bismuth, and 27.2 million pounds of copper. Development of the NICO Project would provide vertically integrated domestic production of three critical minerals to help diversify the current sources of supply from foreign entities of concern with a highly liquid and countercyclical gold co-product. The NICO Project will have average annual production during the first 14 years of the 20-year mine life of 1,800 metric tonnes of cobalt contained in 8,780 tonnes of cobalt sulphate, 47,000 troy ounces of gold in doré bars, 1,700 metric tonnes of bismuth in high purity ingots, and 300 tonnes of copper in a cement product. For more detailed information about the NICO Mineral Reserves and certain technical information in this news release, please refer to the Technical Report on the NICO Project, entitled "Technical Report on the Feasibility Study for the NICO-Gold-Cobalt-Bismuth-Copper Project, Northwest Territories, Canada", dated April 2, 2014 and prepared by Micon International Limited which has been filed on SEDAR and is available under the Company's profile at The disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been approved by Robin Goad, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fortune and Alex Mezei, Fortune's Chief Metallurgist, who are "Qualified Persons" under National Instrument 43-101. About Fortune Minerals Fortune is a Canadian mining company focused on developing the NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper project in the NWT and Alberta. Fortune also owns the Sue-Dianne copper-silver-gold satellite deposit located 25 km north of the NICO deposit and a potential future source of incremental mill feed to extend the life of the NICO concentrator. Follow Fortune Minerals: Click here to subscribe to Fortune's email list. Click here to follow Fortune on LinkedIn. @FortuneMineral on X. This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. This forward-looking information includes statements with respect to, among other things, the construction of the proposed mine and concentrator in the NWT and the hydrometallurgical process facility in Alberta, the potential for expansion of the NICO deposit and the Company's plans to develop the NICO Project. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management as well as certain assumptions at the date the information is given including, in respect of the forward-looking information contained in this press release, assumptions regarding: the successful completion of the Company's updated feasibility study, the Company's ability to secure the necessary financing to fund the working capital required for the government funded work, the Company's ability to complete construction of a NICO Project hydrometallurgical process facility; the Company's ability to secure other feed sources for the hydrometallurgical process facility, the Company's ability to arrange the necessary financing to continue operations and develop the NICO Project; the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals for the construction and operation of the NICO Project and the related hydrometallurgical process facility and the timing thereof; growth in the demand for cobalt and bismuth; the time required to construct the NICO Project; and the economic environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of gold, cobalt, bismuth and other by-product metals, anticipated costs and the volumes of metals to be produced at the NICO Project. However, such forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. These factors include the risks that the Company may not be able to complete the metallurgical test work to validate process improvements, update the Feasibility and FEED studies and secure the remaining permits and authorizations needed to construct and operate the mine, concentrator in the NWT and hydrometallurgical facility in Alberta, the Company may not achieve material reductions in the cobalt and gold circuit sizes, the Company may not achieve the anticipated reductions in capital and operating costs, the Company may not be able to economically discharge residues in a Class 2 landfill, the Company may not be able to finance and develop NICO on favourable terms or at all, uncertainties with respect to the receipt or timing of required permits, approvals and agreements for the development of the NICO Project, including the related hydrometallurgical process facility, the construction of the NICO Project may take longer than anticipated, the Company may not be able to secure offtake agreements for the metals to be produced at the NICO Project, the Sue-Dianne Property may not be developed to the point where it can provide mill feed to the NICO Project, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties and in the mining industry in general, the market for products that use cobalt or bismuth may not grow to the extent anticipated, the future supply of cobalt and bismuth may not be as limited as anticipated, the risk of decreases in the market prices of cobalt, bismuth and other metals to be produced by the NICO Project, discrepancies between actual and estimated Mineral Resources or between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries, uncertainties associated with estimating Mineral Resources and Reserves and the risk that even if such Mineral Resources prove accurate the risk that such Mineral Resources may not be converted into Mineral Reserves once economic conditions are applied, the Company's production of cobalt, bismuth and other metals may be less than anticipated and other operational and development risks, market risks and regulatory risks. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because it is possible that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forms of forward-looking information will not be achieved by the Company. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise it to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. View source version on Contacts Fortune Minerals Limited Troy Nazarewicz Investor Relations Manager info@ Tel: (519) 858-8188


Forbes
5 days ago
- Forbes
Reimagining The Cybersecurity Conference Experience
CruiseCon reimagines the conference experience to foster deeper conversations in a more human ... More setting. Conferences like RSAC and Black Hat are staples of the cybersecurity industry calendar, attended annually by thousands of professionals and vendors. But despite their popularity, attendees often leave these events wondering what concrete value they've gained. Vendors, too, frequently question whether the large investments in booths and sponsorships genuinely result in meaningful relationships or business opportunities. Recently, I spoke with Ira Winkler, founder of CruiseCon, to explore how we might rethink the conference model to better serve both cybersecurity professionals and vendors. The Traditional Conference Trap Most cybersecurity professionals attend major industry events because it's expected. Vendors invest heavily in these conferences because they fear missing out on visibility and potential sales opportunities. Social media is generally filled with people sharing how much they dislike San Francisco or Las Vegas, and what a burden it is to have to attend these events. Yet, despite high attendance, many find that traditional conferences are overwhelming and impersonal. Short, surface-level conversations dominate, leaving little room for meaningful engagement or lasting connections. From my experience, large conferences often prioritize quantity over quality, filling schedules with endless sessions and packed exhibit halls. Vendors scan badges in exchange for swag and track the number of scans as a value metric when virtually none of the attendees that get scanned are in their market or interested in what they have to offer…other than the free swag. These massive events make it challenging to truly network, share knowledge deeply, or build relationships beyond exchanging business cards (for younger cybersecurity professionals—a business card is a small wallet-sized piece of cardboard with relevant company and personal information on it that was used to share contact information before smartphones were invented). A Different Approach to Networking and Content RSAC and Black Hat are the two major cybersecurity events, but they're certainly not the only ones. Many vendors host their own customer and partner events, and smaller regional or niche events have sprung up over the years, like B-Sides, or Ira Winkler has a fresh approach, though, that could significantly enhance the value derived from cybersecurity conferences. Drawing inspiration from exclusive industry retreats he attended as Chief Security Architect at Walmart, Winkler launched CruiseCon, an innovative conference held aboard a cruise ship. He strives to provide the sort of relaxed networking opportunities typically reserved for elite executives. "My goal was to democratize events like this, where I bring top level content in an environment that encourages networking, encourages the lifelong connections that these things bring," Winkler explained. CruiseCon creates an informal atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the rushed, transactional nature of typical conferences. Attendees share meals, participate in leisurely activities, and attend thoughtfully curated sessions designed to foster deeper discussions and genuine connections. Winkler emphasizes that the cruise environment encourages attendees—from SOC analysts to Fortune 100 CISOs—to interact authentically, building relationships that extend far beyond the event itself. Why Destination Events Work There are exceptions, though. Over the years, I've seen firsthand how a change of scenery can completely shift the tone and effectiveness of engagement. During RSAC one year, Barracuda took a small group of tech journalists—including myself—offsite to a San Francisco Giants game. It was casual, relaxed, and more memorable than anything that happened on the show floor. When I was at Alert Logic, we did something similar—racing exotic cars with partners and customers offsite at Black Hat, and hosting a private event at AT&T Park (now Oracle Park) where we got to tour the stadium and take batting practice in the training area behind the dugout during RSAC. These weren't just social outings—they were intentional settings to foster deeper conversation. They got the right people in the room and created an environment that encouraged genuine connection. Unlike the chaotic receptions where the same attendees bounce from one open bar to the next, these curated experiences had focus. And they worked. What resonated with me when I spoke to Ira about CruiseCon is that it taps into that same philosophy. It's not about packing a room or handing out swag—it's about designing an environment where conversations happen naturally, where vendors and practitioners alike have the time and space to actually connect. Also, it's a cruise. Enhancing Vendor and Attendee Interaction Unlike standard conferences where aggressive sales tactics often hinder genuine interactions, Winkler explained how CruiseCon redefines the vendor-attendee relationship. Vendors mingle naturally with attendees throughout the cruise, fostering respectful conversations without the pressure of forced sales pitches. This setting enables vendors to present their offerings thoughtfully and allows attendees to engage comfortably, leading to more meaningful and lasting connections. Bottom line: you're on a boat. There is no need for obnoxious or high-pressure pitches. You have a captive audience to some extent, so conversations can happen naturally. 'You're going to be interacting with these people over five days. If you can't go up to this person at some point and say, 'Look, I don't want to bother you. But here's at a high level what I do. And if you're so inclined, I'd love 45 minutes of your time when we get back to shore,' there's something wrong.' A New Perspective The cybersecurity industry may benefit significantly by reconsidering how conferences are structured. Rather than accepting traditional formats as a necessary obligation, exploring alternatives like CruiseCon's more personal and immersive experience can deliver deeper value for both attendees and vendors. Registration is open now for CruiseCon West 2025. The cruise itself is October 2-6 , departing from San Pedro.