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A Very Groovy SOCstock 2020 Recap: The Security Operations Profession’s Biggest Event

by Dan Kaplan on December 9, 2020

In a year full of uncertainty, SOCstock 2020 delivered – and if you missed it, it’s not too late to relive the magic.

Dubbed the “grooviest event ever for security operations professionals,” SOCstock was originally conceived in March, shortly after quarantine restrictions began worldwide and a new reality set in.

With anxieties rising, new threats emerging and physical events off limits, we wanted to create a virtual safe space where security operations professionals could comfortably gather and share learning, community and – perhaps most importantly of all – good vibes.

Several months later, our inaugural Woodstock-themed event hit the grand stage, and we couldn’t be any more proud of what we believe it accomplished.

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Here are some highlights:

Thoughtful Keynotes

Cybercrime journalist Brian Krebs kicked the festivities off with a fireside Q&A chat, helping viewers make sense of the daily procession of data breaches and the criminal minds and motivations behind them. To close the day, Anton Chuvakin, head of security strategy at Chronicle and one of the infosec industry’s most respected thinkers, swapped his hippie rocker wig for a talk chock full of observations about the modern security operations center.

Three Dynamic Panels

There is nothing more rewarding than when panels made up of esteemed guests live up to their promise of vibrant discussion. SOCstock featured three such group conversations that killed: on the topics of 1) burnout, 2) remote security operations and 3) the MSSP-end user relationship. They featured everyone from CISOs to SOC managers to researchers to mental health professionals, and each session showcased candid and thought-provoking dialogue. And while the subject matter was often heavy, the wardrobe aesthetics of our panelists brought the chill.

Mid-Day Mindfulness

Health coach and wellness influencer Robyn Youkilis created a custom crash course for all the SOC keyboard warriors of the world struggling with turning off the stress once their shifts end.

14 Breakout Sessions

From talks on ransomware and metrics to XDR technology and MITRE frameworks, SOCstock session tracks featured a mix of fan favorites and new faces covering the many aspects and functions of the security operations discipline.

A Lively (Socially Distanced) Social Lounge

Of all the elements of SOCstock, the interactive social lounge may have been the most memorable. Practitioners used the forum to seek career advice, share quirky questions (What’s your favorite flavor of White Claw?), answer trivia for points and show off their security operations “battle stations” to peers.

Competitions for Prizes

Speaking of trivia, as well as other contests, attendees who racked up the most points won fun prizes, including the grand reward: an iPhone 12 courtesy of our generous sponsor King & Union.

Solution Partners

SOCstock couldn’t have been possible without the support of our partners, who deliver some of the most advanced and helpful technologies in the security space. At SOCstock, they shared educational assets, videos and more with visitors.

Peace Out (Until the Next One)!

And when it was all over, the SOCstock team celebrated our accomplishment and toasted you, who we hope to see again at the next SOCstock (maybe even, dare we say, in the physical world?)