The Power of Community: A 35th Anniversary Preview of RSAC 2026

Hey, everyone. Welcome back here to Tech Drunk tv. You know, this annually is one of my favorite tech drunk TV segments of the year Market down.

Hopefully next year we'll do it again, but every year these two ladies come up here on Tech Drunk TV with me and give us our annual preview insight, what's happening for RSAC, for RSAC conference, as we call it. And so I'm really happy to in invite them back on, I don't know how many years we're doing this, as long as I'm doing text on tv. But let me introduce you to Brita Glad, who's the senior vp, content and communities for RSAC, rich and Linda.

Hi Brita. And then of course, Linda Gray. Martin who, chief of staff, RSAC, and Senior Vice President for RSAC Power.

My Power Ladies. Oh, Linda and Brita. How are you?

We are good. We're so excited to be here. I can't believe RSAC 26 is one month.

So if you're taking my feelings into account, move it back another month next year. It ca it snuck up on me. Right?

It snuck up on It was Christmas and boom. It's IAC already. I know.

Well, next year we're in early April and we will be for the subsequent good. Yeah, I mean it's, to be honest, it's only really a week or so different, but it, I think mentally it feels different. So A month is a whole different latitude.

The month changes from March to April. It's, it's a latitude. Yes.

Um, sort of like the Corona commercials, you know, but so that's good. 'cause it is, it, it's, it's, it's sneaking up on us. I mean, I made all my plans and I'm of course getting, you know, all of the inundated with requests for meetings and interviews and all of that stuff.

But I just feel like I don't have enough time. I Know it's the best. It's your people, right?

I'm so Excited. Excited. Well, it's my people.

They're helping see our people, To see our community. The energy. It's the, so you get the shot in the arm a month earlier this time, Alan Absolutely.

Look at it that way. A couple weeks. Yes.

I, we are, so, I'm, I'm flying out Saturday, so I'll be there early and, and get good, I'll be all ready to rock and roll for Monday and then all the way through Thursday again. But, you know, we've got a new theme this year. We have, Well, we, in many ways, we have a new RSAC this year, don't we?

We do. But let's talk about the theme first. So the power of community.

So, I mean, we've had a variation on this thing for the, the last few years. But the reason being is because this is what it's all about. I mean, it is all about the people.

And I think the kind of philosophy behind this year's theme is that how by uniting as a community, we can really affect change. And, you know, ideas become breakthroughs when they're shared. And we see that at RSAC.

We really do. So that's kind of what it's all about. And then, you know, as we do each year, we have a little, um, kind of saying, or a quote, this year's one I love, it's an African proverb and it says, if you wanna go quickly, go alone.

If you wanna go far, go together. That says it all. That says it all.

I love it. Agreed. Agreed.

Yeah. Brita, what about you? What do you think about this?

The community that will be there? We were just talking about that shot in the arm. Um, and I get so excited, you know, my, my world that I live in with content and the communities, you know, what are those communities?

We have all kinds of closed door groups that meet, that we put meetings together for Fortune 1000 CSOs, fraud leaders, government leaders. The energy and excitement there, Alan is amazing. Um, I've seen the agendas.

They look solid. Every single one of the programs is at a wait list state. So we've got all these very senior folks who build their, their schedule around the week of RSAC.

Um, but then also, you know, the content and all of these wonderful, wonderful, um, truly passionate experts from across our industry, from the community that come together to conference, to deliver presentations, to help people learn all of this great expertise that we have that, you know, really does drive into how do we apply and change what we're doing based on the threat landscape, based on new policies coming forward, based on, oh, AI that's changing, you know, by the millisecond. So this power of the community for good, um, has always been there for conference. Um, I think in particular this year, you'll see it in spades across what's being delivered.

Yeah, Because this year, Alan, did you know, it's our 35th anniversary. Yes. I did know.

Isn't That crazy? I, I'm old, but I'm not that old. I haven't been there all 35 years.

We've been saying the same thing. We were not involved then, Right? I was not there.

My, actually, this is probably my 25th, I think maybe 26th. That's amazing. Yeah.

2025. Yeah. I just think it, like, it started in 1991.

So I would say to anyone coming watch out for some little 1991 and other nineties Easter eggs through the week, we are embracing the nineties. Um, but you know, it's very cool. Can you believe that the first RSAC was just one panel?

It was one panel session. Uhhuh, you know, what's, you know, you know What's awesome about that though? Sorry, Alan is there are two, there are two individuals that I've seen from some of the footage of that first one panel who are still active participants.

Really? Bruce Schneider and Wit Diffy. Absolutely.

These, These, oh, I know 'em both too. Very cool. Exactly.

These leading people in the industry. So we've talked about, you know, all these new players, all this growth from that first wetland of 50 people at the first one to 40, over 43,000 folks last year. Year.

But you, that's, that's the legacy that we are as conference. That's the passion that these people who early stage are still there. It's still important for them to have conversations.

It is. They still see this as where they want to deliver. Yeah.

I'm sorry, Brita, I didn't mean to to jump in on you then, but I was getting excited because I've been speaking with Jim Zos, who as you know, is involved in the very first one and he's digging out some stuff from the archives for us. So we, we have a new area at the conference this year, Alan called the Connection Hub, which is really designed to just bring people together, help people meet each other, exchange ideas, have great conversation, have a bit of fun. 'cause there's some fun elements in it.

But within that space, we have a 35th, um, kind of exhibit. So a tribute to RSAC through the years. And our team has been digging through our archives, trying to find old program guides and backpacks and all sorts.

And Jim Zoss is digging out some old press clippings from us right back from the first conference. So that's exciting. Absolutely.

So, I, like you said, I just love the fact that those kind of founding fathers of the industry are still involved today. Absolutely. You know, we, we did something this week.

We announced the, uh, quantum security 25, 25 biggest thought leaders in quantum security. I, I've been doing some interviews with them. And of course, when you talk about quantum security, it becomes about cryptography, right?

It comes post quantum cryptography. And so it, a lot of it goes back to the original RSA work, right? The semi right work that established all of these things at RSA and, and here we are 35 years later.

Well, it's much later, you know, RSA before that, but still, it's still fresh, it's still new, it's still evolving. It, the technology is still challenging. Um, Speaking still Matters of challenging.

It matters. Well, more than ever. Absolute more that 'cause the stakes are higher.

Absolutely. Think about it. It's, you know, um, talking about new technology, we would be negligent if we didn't mention ai.

And it's two little Initials. Yeah. Yes.

Wait, nothing little about those two. Um, but, you know, in, in terms of previewing this year's agenda and this year's conference, how, how outsized, and I'm guessing it's an outsized role, is AI having Absolutely. And that's where I love Alan, that we're recording, um, this session today, because it's different today than it would've been yesterday.

Even when you look at announcements happening, um, you know, in the space in and around AI and how things are changing, mind you, it'll be different tomorrow, which will be different the next day and the next. But, um, it's a, it's a really good question. And it's one that our program committee, as you know, RSA conference, all of our, um, content is determined by an expert program committee who looks carefully through, oh, almost 3000 submissions this year to make selections and, and look at additional needs that we have.

But there was a long conversation about how much AI content should there be? Are we, are we, you know, are we tired of ai? Are we, is there too much?

And the reality is, um, you know, AI is seeped into everything. So even if a session title doesn't lead with ai, we have a track that's called intersection of AI and security. Is everything AI on that?

No, absolutely not. Because pretty much everything everywhere all at once is ai. And it's changing how we look at things as, as I look at, you know, what sessions have people already, um, signed up to attend?

Because reserve a seat, very important. If you're coming to conference, you have that opportunity. Um, you know, take a look, plan your agenda.

There's your public service announcement. But the things people are, um, you know, signing up for and, and concerned about are in and around ai. Not just AI from a technology standpoint or from a threat standpoint, or from a how do we develop code, but also AI governance.

Um, you know, how do you, how do you develop teams identity and such. So AI really is everywhere and certainly figures also very prominently on our, on our keynote stage, which, um, which Linda could talk about. Linda, sounds like they threw the ball to you.

I know, I've just caught it. Thank you, Preston. Hello.

Um, so yes, so let's talk keynotes because, um, we change up the program every year, as you know. So from a main stage perspective, we will be kicking off with our very own Hugh Thompson, uh, executive chairman. Um, and then on day one we have Aja call from Microsoft.

We have GTU Patel from Cisco, we have Sandra Joyce from Google Cloud. And then first thing, Tuesday morning we have George Kurtz from CrowdStrike. Sure.

And then on, you know, we have the other kind of visionary leaders from our sponsor organization, so we're always thrilled to welcome them them. But we also have some amazing guest speakers this year that I'd just like to quickly run through, if that's okay. Um, because just excited about our program this year.

So on the Tuesday, uh, we have the right Honorable Dame Jacinda Arder Ting, who I think everybody probably knows is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. I am really excited to see her. She has a fascinating story.

She's an amazing woman. An amazing woman really gonna be focusing on the empathetic leadership and managing through crisis that we all kind of came to know her for. Um, so excited about that one.

Yay. Absolutely. And then the Wednesday morning, another favorite, I think with our audience, Adam Savage, um, it's best known for MythBusters.

Uh, also a kind of scientist in an educator. He is gonna be talking about how a maker's mindset can shape and improve our work as cyber professionals. He wrote, uh, a really cool book called Every Tool is a Hammer.

So he's gonna be, um, pulling out some of the main themes of that and applying them to, uh, attendees, which is great. Also on Wednesday we have Michael Lewis, amazing author, number one, New York Times bestseller. Um, I think most people know him from Moneyball and for the Big Short and others, but he is a very entertaining and obviously yes, very smart guy, um, who is renowned for seeing what a lot of other people miss and making complex worlds understandable, which I think we all need a bit of help with.

So that's good. Um, obviously a big shout out to our friends and partners over at Sam's. They will be returning for their, uh, five most dangerous attacks, uh, keynote, which is a firm fan favorite.

Honestly, I think, I don't even know how many years we've been doing it now off the top of my head, but it's many. And the reason we keep doing it is because people love it. Um, and they're a great, great crew and a great partner.

And then Bri, do you wanna talk a little bit about the closing celebration? Who doesn't wanna talk about Hugh Jackman? Right.

Um, so 35th anniversary, we have to celebrate style. It Is style of, my wife's big, I've gotta figure out how to get, she's coming Wednesday, Bonnie comes out, she'll be there Thursday. I've gotta figure out how to get her in to see Hugh Jackman, but well, We'll talk.

We'll, the good news is, Alan, we'll Talk, we'll talk You got contacts. Yeah, Exactly. And passes you all, all, you know, if you've got, if you've got your RSAC badge, um, Mr.

Jackman is there for you. So, um, Hugh Jackman, you know, when we, when we, He's not wearing the white dinner jacket from that movie with Nicole Kidman, is he? Who knows.

You know, he might have, he might. Yeah, he might have some claws. He might have 35th.

How do you celebrate 35? You know, do you have someone who can sing? Do you have someone who inspires us as a superhero?

Sure. Do you have someone who's just an amazing, amazing, um, human being, philanthropic work, um, very talented, cool accent, um, all in one person. So we try to, you know, make sure that our keynote stage really inspires, but also that they're good people.

We, we, you know, it's at, at, at the heart of any community is good. People with good intention. And boy, we, we batted a thousand on this one, and we are so excited, um, for Hugh with Hugh.

Um, as well as some other fun special things. And there will be surprise and delight moments. So we can't, you know, reveal all of those things now.

No, we don't wanna give away all our secrets. Any good magician knows that You will want to be in the room for that closing celebration. You'll want to, can't miss it.

So, I don't know, have you guys seen song, song Blue? Yes. I haven't seen it.

I must see it before conference. I see that daughter's. It's home.

My daughter's actually in it. Alan, it's it's background. It, I can show you where Melin is in the scene, but Yes.

Um, yeah. Song, song. Well, congratulations to her.

Which just an amazing, amazing person. Um, true Story. Yeah.

No, he does a great job in that True story. He is so good. And he's, you know, really good.

He's doing those vocals himself. It's Amazing. I know.

Well, he, he's, he's an amazing song and dance man. Absolutely. I, yeah.

How's the start? Speaking of amazing good people, Jen Easterly, is she speaking Jen? She is.

Jen is part of the program. Linda, do you wanna cover some of her areas? Yeah, I was gonna say, she's, you are gonna be seeing her make an appearance in Hughes keynote on the Monday, and she is actually gonna be interviewing Jacinda den, Dame Jacinda den, I should say.

Um, which I think is gonna be great. I think it's, that's a perfect combination. So yeah, we're excited About that.

Um, we also actually have a, a late breaking, so as Linda discussed, we have the main stage keynote. Wait, Wait, wait for it. I need one of those alert things.

Wait to go as across as the bottom. Okay. Late breaking news.

Go ahead, Britta. Yes. Late breaking news, um, on the YBCA theater stage at 1220 on Thursday, March 26th, Jen will be moderating a panelist is a great, um, you know, documentary that's been being worked on midnight in the War Room.

Um, Jen will be leading an amazing panel discussing, uh, that the evolution of cyber war inside the Making of Midnight in the War Room, which she's actually, she's interviewed as part of that movie. She's, she's worked with those folks. But, um, that's, yeah, this is one that you are not going to want to miss on the YBCA stage.

Also Thursday. Also Thursday, yeah. I gotta do a quick plug.

You know, Monday we do our DevSecOps seminar as RSA calls it. But, you know, and, and the world of DevSecOps has changed, and this year we really focused on a lot of DevOps is now they're calling AI native dev Absolutely. AI everything.

And we, again, we invited back David Brynn, who's a Hugo Nebula absolutely award-winning PhD from na from JPL on top of everything else. But he's written and he, rumor has it, again, just rumor he has a new book on ai, a AI lean, like alien AI life that's, we're gonna have some pre-release copies available to people who come to our seminar. Excellent.

And, um, so if you're a big David Bryn fan, and, and David is an AI futurist, he was writing about AI in the late eighties, so interesting. This is gonna be a, a, a great session as well. And I think I've, you'd have to go on the RSA website to look, I think he's speaking at 10 30 or something like that on Monday.

Speaking of Monday, that's also Sandbox Day. You Are right. Innovation Sandbox.

Absolutely. The 10 finalists have been announced, um, yes, starting at nine 30 on Monday. And the, and the winners are announced, you know, right around 1215.

Uh, it's always a big fan favorite, uh, with lots of participation. Uh, add that one to your agenda if you don't wanna miss that session, because it's, it's always, it always delivers, and it's always amazing to see where those companies are, you know, a year from now, two years from now, five years from now, it is a, um, arguably the biggest, the biggest rainmaker of any event that happens here. Absolutely.

Let's cir Yeah, we're almost out of time. So let's f yeah. Circle all the way back to community.

You mentioned 43,000 I think last year or something. 40 just second year in a row. I, you know, it's post COVID, the numbers have bounced back nicely.

Um, for those out there and, you know, you get the full spectrum of security, they don't want to pay to go to San Francisco. They, it's the greatest thing in the world and everything in between. Where, where do people get community at RSA guys?

We mentioned the hub, is that, is that what it's called? The connection hub? Yeah, that's a specific dedicated area.

And I mean, you know, we understand RSA conferences or RSAC conference, sorry, Ben, um, is huge. And if you're there on your own for the first time, we can imagine, you know, it is overwhelming, but hopefully it's also a place where you are gonna make lifelong, um, friends and connections. So if you are a first timer, um, if you're coming as part of our Loyalty Plus program as well, so if you've been there for, um, up to five years, if this is your fifth, you qualify as loyalty.

Plus we're having a RESP reception on the Sunday night to bring those two co cohorts together, because I think there's a lot of learning and a crossover between the two. Um, so, you know, I know, I remember a couple of years ago we had, um, our very first, first timers Naughty Plus reception, and we had a pub trivia. It was like a, like a pub trivia night.

People loved it. They were at their tables, um, playing against each other. And by the end of it, I remember a couple of people had formed WhatsApp groups with their table mates and they kept in touch for the whole conference.

I mean, how brilliant is that? Yeah, it was so good to hear about it. So, you know, there are several of these kind of events and meetups and et cetera during the week.

We also run a Know Before You Go webcast, um, off the top of my, he, do you know the date? I think it's around the 12th of March. Um, but that's a really good one to come to if you haven't been to RSAC before, just to, just to get the lie of the land.

Some other tips for people who haven't been before, try and make a plan, try and spend a little bit of time before the conference, just going through the session agenda, going through the expo catalog. Just try, try and do a little bit of work. Like you said, you've already done some, which is amazing.

You get a gold star. But we would definitely encourage people to do it because it's like when you go to London or New York or somewhere for a trip, you wanna make the most of every minute. And to do that, you're just gonna have a much better experience if you make a plan.

So, um, here, Here's, here's a shimmy assignment for you. Take your RSA schedule, upload it to your favorite ai, and ask it to make you an itinerary of what it thinks is the best. Ah, That's very Good.

And then do your own, do your own. And see that's something to do. I mean, look, I am big into encouraging people.

Don't be afraid of ai. Use ai. And, um, I think that would be a great thing to do.

It would be interesting. There we go. Yeah, ai, I wonder what, I wonder what the AI thinks.

Anyway. It is, it's shaping up to be an amazing RSA is, it always is. Um, it's not too late to get, there's different classes of tickets.

There's, there's Expo Plus and a couple of other things. But if you go, you know, to the RSAC website, and, and let me, Linda, you said it, it may be a confus, some people RSAC is the company, the organization that puts on the RSAC conference. That's correct.

As I drop my AirPod, uh, the RSAC company organization exists throughout the year. They're doing, they're about, about building community, Right? That's right.

Yeah. So back to that community Word, RSAC conference is the main conference, or at least for now, that RSAC organization puts on. That's correct.

Yeah. So It's the RSAC conference and that, that's why we're saying that. Did I get that right?

You you got it. Well, you did. You get, I'm a, it's, I know it's a little bit confusing, but people call us many different things.

Um, but RSAC tends to be the shortened version that you hear the most or that we'd like to hear the most. I will say never say R sac to Brita or I You won't be allowed through the doors. Well, um, well, anyone Who says is probably working well, I don't even wanna go there.

Um, ladies, it's so good to always see you. And I live as always seeing you in person, uh, in just a couple weeks now, right? I, I fly, I think the 21st is my flight, something like that.

Wow. Um, we'll, we'll see you out there in San Francisco. I would say wear flowers in your hair, but I don't think flowers will go in my hair.

Um, but I, I do look forward. I'm looking forward to another, just smashing, smashing. RSAC.

Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed.

We are looking forward forward to seeing you there. And also we are looking forward to seeing the community there because like Brita and I said, that's what makes us excited. That's what makes us get up in the morning and come to work.

Just, you know, the shot in the arm, the shot we all Need. Absolutely. That's what we need.

Brita Linder, it's so good seeing you. You As Well. I'll see you soon.

Hope. Take care. Go check it.

If you're not already registered, go do it now. Things fill up, up, Come to the website and register. Make yeah.

Reserve seats. Well, Especially if in the sessions, You, if you wanna get guaranteed a seat at one of the sessions that get, get really sold out, it, it, that pre-registration piece of it is important. Why are you there?

I forget what the word is. What do they do for our seminars? They don't pre-register.

They express a interest, express An interest, registered interest, right? Yep. In our, uh, I forget the fancy name for it, but it's securing AI native dev part of our DevSecOps seminar on Monday.

Ladies, I look forward to seeing you. Thank you for coming on, and we'll see you in San Francisco. This is Alan Hummel for Tech Drunk tv.

We'll Be right back.