Last week, on May 30th, 2024, a group of friends and I had the privilege to attend CyberSec Europe 2024 at the impressive Brussels Expo Hall 5. This event, focused on IT and cybersecurity, IT security, data management, and cloud/onsite solutions, was bustling with activity. Numerous companies and organizations showcased their best work for the world to see.

Arrival and Registration

We took the train and metro to Brussels Heisel, arriving at 10:10, and walked to the expo, which was about a five-minute walk from the station. Once at the expo, we registered and received our badges, complete with our names and job titles.

Exploring the Expo

Inside, I almost immediately ran into a colleague from my internship company, Outkept, who also had a stand at the event. We visited the Outkept stand, where we chatted and participated in interviews for their marketing purposes—a fun and engaging experience.

Capture the Flag Challenge

As we continued exploring, we stumbled upon a stand hosting a Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge, with a Flipper Zero as the prize. Dellia, who still wanted a Flipper, encouraged us to participate, though Thor and I already had one. We managed to find five flags, earning five entries into the giveaway.

Visiting Stands and Attending Talks

We visited numerous stands, learning about new and interesting developments in cybersecurity. At one point, we attended a talk by a startup where new startups pitched their ideas, competing for the "Computable Belgium 2024 Cyber Awareness" award. The winning startup was announced later in the day.

Wrapping Up

After hours of walking and exploring, we decided to head home around 16:20, as most of our group was tired and experiencing leg pain. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and gained valuable insights into various companies and their innovations in cybersecurity.