Breaking Into Cybersecurity with BlackHack Society, Home for Ethical Hackers

By Aaron Butler

Elevator Pitch

BlackHack Society, Home for Ethical Hackers, is a brand whose mission is to raise a new generation who not only can survive the corporate world but also inherit the traditional hacker mindset and values. The audience will be informed and inspired on how they can pursue careers in cybersecurity.

Description

Breaking Into Cybersecurity with BlackHack Society, Home for Ethical Hackers Speaker: Aaron Butler, CISSP, Founder of BlackHack Society

Abstract:

Are you ready to break into the exciting and lucrative world of cybersecurity? This lecture, led by Aaron Butler, Founder of BlackHack Society, will provide you with a comprehensive roadmap to launching your cybersecurity career.

We’ll explore why the cybersecurity industry is structured the way it is and address common challenges faced by newcomers. You’ll gain valuable insights into the various domains within cybersecurity, helping you chart a personalized career path. Aaron will recommend essential certifications and skills to acquire, and share tips on how to build a resume that stands out.

This lecture goes beyond just getting your foot in the door; you’ll also learn how to thrive once you’re in the field. We’ll cover common pitfalls to avoid and strategies for long-term success.

Key Takeaways: * Understand the current cybersecurity landscape and future trends. * Identify your ideal cybersecurity career path. * Learn about recommended certifications and skills. * Discover how to enhance your resume and gain relevant experience. * Avoid common mistakes and navigate the industry effectively.

About BlackHack Society: BlackHack Society is dedicated to bringing new talent into the cybersecurity profession and ethical hacking communities. We offer education, upskilling opportunities, and community support, teaching from a hybrid offensive/defensive perspective known as the “Purple Team Mentality”. Join us and become part of the next generation of ethical hackers!

Notes

This lecture helps the audience (college students, recent college graduates, and career transfer) understand how to “break into cybersecurity” as a profession and demystify much of the hype and misinformation surrounding our profession. The lecture provides a brief history of hacking and hacker culture, commentary on the current industry, where things are going, and actionable steps to build a strong foundation for a long-term career in cybersecurity. Finally, a large list of (mostly) resources and references to both blue team, red team, and ‘hacker cultural’ information and training are referenced so that by the end of the lecture, the audience has hours worth of research and self-study to discover for themselves if they are interested. The context of this lecture is based on our brand core values of Honesty, Integrity, Accountability, Humility, and Authenticity; and our tone is conversational and irreverent.

BlackHack Society is a brand based out of Atlanta, GA and our mission is to create a New Generation of Ethical Hackers from diverse cultural backgrounds. We currently have over 800 members in the southeast and are expanding our reach. This lecture has been given repeatedly at other events (including BSides Atl) to great success and was even converted to an ebook. As the founder of BHS, I am visiting Chicago and attending Thotcon as well as BS312, to network with BurbSec and raise awareness of our brand, build goodwill, and create strategic alliances with other cybersecurity engineering-focused organizations.