BSides Kristiansand brought together the cybersecurity community in Southern Norway for the very first time. Noroff University College (NUC) was proud to be one of the event’s platinum sponsors, while three of NUC's academic staff were the event’s organisers.
Noroff helps bring global security conference to Kristiansand
— It all started with a desire to create a meeting place for security enthusiasts here in Southern Norway, says Veronica Schmitt, programme lead for Digital Forensics and Incident Response at Noroff University College.
Together with colleagues Emlyn Butterfield and Barry Irwin, she initiated BSides Kristiansand. All three have previously been involved in BSides conferences abroad, and now wanted to provide the same opportunity to others locally.
— We’ve missed having an event where developers, security professionals and tech enthusiasts can meet, share knowledge and build networks, without having to travel to Oslo or Bergen, she explains.
BSides is a globally recognised conference format for cybersecurity professionals. It was founded in 2009 as a more grassroots, community-driven alternative to large-scale commercial events like Black Hat. It emphasizes inclusion, accessibility and local relevance, values strongly reflected in Noroff’s academic approach.
Strengthening the Southern cybersecurity scene
On June 6, the very first BSides Kristiansand conference took place on Noroff’s campus. Students, professionals and tech enthusiasts came together for a day filled with technical talks, networking, and hands-on exploration.
— BSides Kristiansand offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the ties between academia and industry. It’s a place where students can engage directly with the professional community, build connections and help showcase Noroff as an active contributor to the cybersecurity landscape, says Emlyn Butterfield, Rector at Noroff University College.
Many of the speakers and volunteers were Noroff students and staff, highlighting the event’s strong local roots and creating a welcoming and low-threshold environment for all attendees.
📷: Daniel Schandorff Dahl and Alida Øvermo-Mortensen, students at Noroff. Photo: Marlin Tendvall
Deep technical focus and creative touches
The program featured a wide range of talks, covering everything from EDR evasion and shellcode to malware analysis and threat intelligence.
— It’s so cool to be part of something this unique. BSides stands out by going much deeper into technical topics — it's nerdier, more detailed, and filled with people who genuinely care about the craft. I’m trying to soak up as much as I can, and I even got to present myself, says Daniel Schandorff Dahl, a Digital Forensics student at Noroff.
One of the more unique elements of the conference was the digital badge, developed by Kyle Shockley and Caleb Davis from the Texas-based cybersecurity company Solasec. This custom-designed electronic badge functions as a “capture the flag” platform. Shaped like a duck, it features seven LED lights, each representing a unique challenge. Participants can solve the tasks, requiring skills such as network analysis and coding, to light up the LEDs.
— There are a total of seven different ways to hack it, say Kyle Shockley and Caleb Davis from Solasec.
📷: Caleb Davis and Kyle Shockley fra Solasec. Photo: Marlin Tendvall
Focus on community
True to the BSides tradition, the conference was about more than just technical content, it was about building a community. The atmosphere was informal, high-energy and welcoming, exactly what you’d hope for in a thriving knowledge-sharing space.
— It’s exciting to be part of something that makes the tech world more accessible. BSides opens doors for both students and companies. We at NetSecurity have recently hired several Noroff graduates. As a former student myself, I still use much of what I learned here in my job, says Marius Langmo, Security Analyst at NetSecurity.
📷: From right: Marius Langmo, Odd Egil Solheim Egelandsaa and Sindre Fredriksen. Photo: Marlin Tendvall
A springboard for future careers
— It’s amazing to bring such an inspiring professional community together, and to do it through a globally recognised event, right here in Kristiansand. For students, this means a lot. They get the chance to build real relationships with industry professionals, and gain insight into what awaits them in the job market, says Anita Karlsen, Director at Noroff University College.