WiCyS - Women in Cybersecurity

WiCyS Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP) | Applications Now OPEN
2025-05-05 - 2026-04-30 | Virtual
The WiCyS Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP) is designed to provide WiCyS members with hands-on, technical training in identifying, reporting, and remediating cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Utilizing the WiCyS website and platform as a live training environment, participants gain real-world experience in vulnerability discovery, triage, and reporting—key skills that enhance their résumés and prepare them for careers in cybersecurity. The program empowers members to become “Defenders of WiCyS” by fostering a deeper understanding of secure coding practices, systems analysis and responsible disclosure processes.
Participants are encouraged to collaborate, share insights, and build their technical acumen in a supportive community environment. The VDP is open to all WiCyS members and serves as a stepping stone toward more advanced training and industry engagement.
The VDP program will run from June 2, 2025, to June 1, 2026. Applications will be open continuously from May 5, 2025, to May 1, 2026—members can apply anytime.
Available to:

WiCyS members of all experience levels (domestic or international)
Professionals seeking hands-on experience
Individuals interested in vulnerability discovery and reporting
Members looking to strengthen offensive and defensive security skills

What You Get:

Access to a live, real-world training environment using the WiCyS platform
Opportunities to discover, report, and triage actual vulnerabilities
Exposure to responsible disclosure processes and secure coding principles
Potential future involvement in a formal bug bounty program through industry partnerships
And More!

Program Details:

Program Runs June 2, 2025 – June 1, 2026
Application Open: May 5, 2025 – May 1, 2026
Launch webinar: May 27, 1-2 pm CT

More details about the VDP program and to apply visit HERE

ChiBrrCon 2026 CFP Open
2025-09-01 - 2025-12-12 | Virtual
ChiBrrCon is Chicago’s premier vendor-free, practitioner-driven, nonprofit security conference where community, creativity, and technical excellence come together. Born from the icy winds of the Midwest winter, ChiBrrCon delivers high-quality technical talks, interactive villages, and engaging leadership discussions—all without vendor sales pitches.
The theme for 2026 is Artificial Intelligence. AI isn’t going anywhere (unless it replaces humans first). So yes, bring your hottest AI takes, but don’t worry—non-AI talks are still encouraged, because cybersecurity is way bigger than just robots pretending to be smart.

Submit your CFP HERE

WiCyS 2026 Call for Presenters
2025-09-10 10:00 - 2025-10-15 17:00 (America/Chicago)
The WiCyS 2026 Conference is your opportunity to share your expertise and help shape the future of cybersecurity. WiCyS is now accepting proposals for presentations, panels, workshops, Birds of a Feather, lightning talks and student posters. Proposals are due October 15 at 5 PM CT, while student poster submissions are due December 15.
This year’s conference highlights the future of cybersecurity and privacy in the era of artificial intelligence—an age defined by innovation, challenge, and opportunity. From pioneering research and emerging technologies to workforce development and community outreach, WiCyS 2026 offers a dynamic platform for learning, sharing and collaborating.
Don’t miss this chance to make an impact at WiCyS 2026!
Learn more and submit to present HERE.

WiCyS 2026 Call for Scholarships
2025-09-10 10:00 - 2025-10-15 17:00 UTC
Scholarship applications for the WiCyS 2026 Conference are now open! The in-person event will take place March 11-13, 2026, in the Washington D.C. area. Scholarships include reduced registration, lodging and limited travel stipends. Pre-conference workshops will begin on Wednesday, March 11, followed by sessions on Thursday and Friday morning. The career fair will be held Thursday morning and afternoon, and Friday morning. In addition to these events, we have a variety of other activities planned throughout the conference.
Don’t miss your chance to network, grow your skills and support the mission to recruit, retain and advance women in cybersecurity.
Learn more and apply HERE.

WiCyS | CyberSecurity Awareness Month 2025
2025-10-01 - 2025-10-31 | Virtual
In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) has developed a toolkit to share with our community. This toolkit includes free and effective tools that individuals can use to mobilize the community, raise cyber awareness and promote proper cyber hygiene to reduce cyber risk.
Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The goal of this month is to help individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) lead a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise cybersecurity awareness nationally and internationally.

Please view all of the resources and download the 2025 Toolkit HERE

WiCyS | Cyber Smart is Cyber Safe
2025-10-01 - 2025-10-31 | Virtual
This October, join WiCyS and the Cyber Education Alliance as we #GetCyberSmart2025 for Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Check out GetCyberSmart.org for resources across over a dozen organizations to keep your kids and students safe online and explore jobs in cybersecurity.

Learn more about the alliance’s ongoing initiatives and Get Cyber Smart HERE

WiCyS Rhode Island and Massachusetts Affiliates | AI Study Buddy Group
2025-10-07 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Join WiCyS Rhode Island and Massachusetts to upskill your team with AWS AI Practitioner Certification! There will be an info session on Tuesday, Oct 7, @2pm EST. The study group will start on Wednesday, Oct 8.
AWS Certified AI Practitioner validates in-demand knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and generative AI concepts and use cases. Sharpen your competitive edge and position yourself for career growth and higher earnings. Learn more HERE

To learn more and to register visit HERE

WiCyS Colorado Affiliate | SANS CyberSecurity Leadership Panel
2025-10-07 17:30 - 20:30 UTC | Embassy Suites Denver Downtown, 1420 Stout St, Denver, CO, 80202, United States
Join WiCyS Colorado Affiliate for an exclusive Cybersecurity Leadership Panel you won’t want to miss! This special evening will include four local CISOs and WiCyS Executive Director, Lynn Dohm, moderated by Kate Marshall.
Our conversation will be focused on mid and seasoned women in security who are looking to advance their careers in management or senior leadership and need advice on how to get there. The CISOs will share their career journeys, including the strategies that worked, challenges they faced, and lessons they learned along the way. WiCyS will share the studies they’ve conducted, best practices, and valuable guidance for those aspiring to elevate their careers in cybersecurity leadership.
The other panelists will include:

Debbi Blyth: Executive Strategist, CrowdStike
Paul Kay: CISO, Western Union
Lena Taylor: CISO, Crocs
Ashley Bolton: CISO, Jefferson County

Register HERE for this free event!

WiCyS Professional Affiliate Leaders Only Meeting
2025-10-07 19:00 - 2025-10-08 13:00 UTC | Virtual
WiCyS Professional Affiliate Leaders-Only Meeting: We are all Stronger Together. As WiCyS professional affiliates trailblaze through their regional, specialty, or corporate affiliate programs, we collectively meet monthly in a leadership capacity to sync up on WiCyS global updates, best practices, upcoming events, and Q&A.
Affiliate meetings are held on the first Tuesday at 7:00 pm CT and the first Wednesday at 1:00 pm CT of the month.

WiCyS Professional Affiliate International Leaders Only Meeting
2025-10-08 07:00 - 08:00 UTC | Virtual
WiCyS Professional Affiliate Leaders-Only Meeting: We are all Stronger Together. As WiCyS professional affiliates trail blaze through their regional, specialty, or corporate affiliate programs, we collectively meet monthly in a leadership capacity to sync up on WiCyS global updates, best practices, upcoming events, and Q & A.
International Affiliate meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at 8:00am CT.

WiCyS West Africa Affiliate | Cyber Champions TTX
2025-10-08 09:00 - 2025-10-10 17:00 UTC | The African Regent Hotel, Accra, Ghana
It’s Here: The Cyber Champions TTX 2025! WiCyS West Africa Affiliate is excited to announce the upcoming Cyber Champions Tabletop Exercise (TTX), a 3-day intensive workshop designed to sharpen our resilience against today’s evolving cyber threats.
Theme: Enhancing Cyber Resilience through Practical Simulations & AI-Driven Threat Analysis
This unique TTX will bring together cybersecurity professionals to:

Run through practical simulations of real-world cyber incidents
Explore AI-driven approaches to detect, analyze, and mitigate threats
Strengthen collaboration between key cyber stakeholders

We are honored to host this under the UK Government Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Africa Cyber Project II, with support from Cyber Security Authority , Ghana, TAG International and Cyber Intelligence and Security Aid Bureau
This workshop is a powerful step toward equipping our cyber champions to stand ready, respond smartly, and recover quickly. West Africa is rising in cyber defense and the Cyber Champions TTX is proof that together, we can build stronger, safer, and smarter digital communities. More information HERE

The Cyber Guild Uniting Women in Cyber 2025
2025-10-09 | Amazon WAS17 – Merlin, 510 14th St, South Arlington, VA, 22202, United States
Your Uniting Women in Cyber (UWIC) event convenes a powerful and expansive network of cyber leaders and experts to discuss emerging global trends, technological advancements, and workforce development. UWIC is the premier event for leaders, professionals and all who are interested in cybersecurity, to meet and network with national leaders in the field.
What to Expect:
● Powerful Keynotes from nationally recognized thought leaders
● Engaging Panels with top industry experts across sectors
● High-Impact Networking with a mission-driven community

For more information and register HERE

WiCyS Nigeria Affiliate | Leadership Forum
2025-10-09 09:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Paris) | Virtual
The forum aims to spotlight and strengthen the power skills that help women leaders thrive in this fast-paced domain. By equipping women cybersecurity professionals with robust communication, public speaking, negotiation, and wellness strategies, the Forum seeks to foster a new generation of holistic, resilient, and influential leaders.

Register HERE

Meet an AI Practitioner
2025-10-09 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Virtual
A presentation by Samantha Siau of Anthropic about her journey in cybersecurity and GRC. Currently she serve as Head of Security, Trust and Assurance on the Security GRC team at Anthropic where she lead criticial initiatives at the intersection of AI security, safety and compliance. She has archiected security programs fro the ground up at various startups, buidling robust frameworks from foundation to full maturity.

WiCyS Create Your Leading Edge Program
2025-10-09 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-10-16 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | Virtual
Create Your Leading Edge is a 12-week leadership development program designed for mid-level women in cybersecurity. It emphasizes cultivating authentic leadership, strategic career growth, and workplace confidence. Join us to advance your career on your own terms.

Upcoming schedule or accepted applicants only:

Launch webinar: July 24, 1-2 pm CT
August 7, 1-2:30 pm CT
August 14, 1-2:30 pm CT
August 21, 1-2:30 pm CT
August 28, 1-2:30 pm CT
September 4, 1-2:30 pm CT
September 11, 1-2:30 pm CT
September 18, 1-2:30 pm CT
September 25, 1-2:30 pm CT
October 2, 1-2:30 pm CT
October 9, 1-2:30 pm CT
October 16, 1-2:30 pm CT
October 23, 1-2:30 pm CT

Full details HERE

WiCyS | FourOne Insights Survey Now Open
2025-10-13 - 2025-10-27 | Virtual
All WiCyS members are invited to participate in a survey—a collaboration between Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) and FourOne Insights—to better understand how skills-based practices can support the advancement of women in cybersecurity. The results will be used to create a comprehensive report to be shared with the broader cybersecurity community. All responses are completely anonymous and will be shared only in aggregate. Your participation is voluntary, but highly valued.

Fill out your survey HERE

WiCyS | IN CYBER Forum Canada
2025-10-14 - 2025-10-15 | Palais des Congrès, 1001 Pl. Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montreal, Quebec, H2Z 1H5 CANADA, Canada
Join WiCyS Executive Director Lynn Dohm and skillrex Chief Strategist & CEO Jeff Welgan deliver their Insights to Impact: Skills-based Strategies for the Future Cyber Workforce presentation at INCYBER Forum on the main stage on October 15th, 11:50 am – 12:30 pm.
The only Pan-Canadian & International cybersecurity conference driving the country’s digital resilience. For the past three years, the INCYBER Canada Forum has established itself as Canada’s premier event with international reach. It mirrors the INCYBER Europe Forum, the continent’s largest cybersecurity event, which brings together 20,000 participants annually. As a community at In Cyber Canada, the strengths and expertise must meet the challenges of today and tomorrow: making the Internet more secure, building trust in new technologies, preventing the impact of cyberwarfare and cyberespionage, making vital infrastructure resilient, and putting an end to cybercrime.

Use our code CA256LZSM8 for a 30% discount on conference passes when registering HERE

WiCyS | Visions CIO + CISO Summit
2025-10-14 - 2025-10-15 | Allianz Stadium, 200 Whitton Rd, Twickenham, TW2 7BA, United Kingdom
WiCyS UKI has partnered with VISIONS CIO + CISO UK, and you have the opportunity to secure a complimentary pass to their Autumn Leadership Summit!
Join for an incredible event experience. Complete with expert insight with 30+ industry leading speakers (including IBM, Currys, Nokia, WiTCH), tailored connections with market-leading providers, and a host of exclusive networking events – all at the iconic Allianz Stadium

Visit HERE for more information and use code WiCYS-VIP for your complimentary pass*

*Visions will be vetting all registrants to ensure that complementary passes meet their attendee requirements.

Webinar | Building Secure AI Agents on AWS: Best Practices and Implementation
2025-10-14 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | BrightTALK
As organizations increasingly adopt agentic AI solutions, security considerations have become paramount in ensuring these autonomous systems operate safely at enterprise scale. This webinar with WiCyS Strategic Partner, Amazon, will explore comprehensive strategies for building, deploying, and securing AI agents on Amazon Web Services (AWS), leveraging the latest security frameworks and best practices tailored for cybersecurity professionals. With the introduction of Amazon Bedrock AgentCore and the open-source Strands Agents SDK, AWS has established new standards for secure AI agent deployment. This session will provide practical insights with a live demo on implementing robust security mechanisms while maintaining the operational efficiency that makes AI agents valuable for enterprise automation and decision-making. Whether you’re building your first AI tool or scaling secure systems in production, this session will equip you with practical strategies for creating trustworthy, transparent, and secure AI.

WiCyS is proud to provide members the opportunity to earn CPE/CEU credits for attending WiCyS Webinars live.
To earn CPE/CEU credits with the following providers, you must meet the minimum requirements:

GIAC/(ISC)2: attend for a minimum of 45 minutes or the entirety of the webinar
CompTIA: attend for a minimum of 60 minutes or the entirety of the webinar (webinar topic must relate to the certificate being renewed)

Attendees who meet the requirements can log into BrightTALK to print out their attendance certificates to submit for CPE/CEU credits.

Register for this webinar and view the recording if you are unable to join live.

WiCyS | Executive Leaders Network
2025-10-16, 2025-10-22 | Virtual
The Executive Leaders Network brings together top cybersecurity leaders to share insights, solve challenges, and build a trusted community of peers. In a field that is constantly changing and where leadership can often feel isolating, this network offers a space for open dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and strategic support. It also helps identify and elevate mid-career professionals into senior roles, supporting our mission to strengthen and diversify leadership across the cybersecurity workforce.
Meeting Cadence: Monthly, Invite-Only
Please complete the form HERE only if you are a cybersecurity C-Suite, President, VP, or Director.

WiCyS October Book Club
2025-10-16 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Virtual
Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker by Kevin Mitnick
In this “intriguing, insightful and extremely educational” novel, the world’s most famous hacker teaches you easy cloaking and counter-measures for citizens and consumers in the age of Big Brother and Big Data (Frank W. Abagnale).
Kevin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. He accessed computers and networks at the world’s biggest companies — and no matter how fast the authorities were, Mitnick was faster, sprinting through phone switches, computer systems, and cellular networks. As the FBI’s net finally began to tighten, Mitnick went on the run, engaging in an increasingly sophisticated game of hide-and-seek that escalated through false identities, a host of cities, and plenty of close shaves, to an ultimate showdown with the Feds, who would stop at nothing to bring him down.
Ghost in the Wires is a thrilling true story of intrigue, suspense, and unbelievable escapes — and a portrait of a visionary who forced the authorities to rethink the way they pursued him, and forced companies to rethink the way they protect their most sensitive information.
“Mitnick manages to make breaking computer code sound as action-packed as robbing a bank.” — NPR
Register HERE

WiCyS Chicago Affiliate | Into the Unknown: The Spooky Side of Leadership in Cybersecurity & Compliance
2025-10-16 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | 22 W Washington St. #7, Chicago, IL, 22 W Washington St. #7, Chicago, IL, chicago, IL, United States
Join WiCyS Chicago for networking and two panels. Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned leader, you’ll walk away with practical insights and strategies from those who’ve navigated these challenges firsthand.
Panel 1
Haunted by Bias: The Spooky Truth of Women’s Journeys in Cybersecurity
Hear candid stories about navigating a male-dominated field. Expect honest
conversations about the barriers these women encountered, lessons learned, and
practical strategies for building confidence and advancing careers in
cybersecurity.
Panel 2
Regulatory Nightmares: Surviving the Haunted Maze of Compliance Senior
leaders will discuss the most challenging compliance issues facing
organizations today. From shifting regulations and enforcement actions to
emerging risks from fintech, AI, and cloud technologies, this panel offers
real-world insights on building resilient compliance programs that can adapt to
an evolving landscape.

Details and to register HERE

WiCyS New York Metro Affiliate | BSidesNYC Conference
2025-10-18 08:00 - 18:30 (America/Halifax) | CUNY John Jay College, 524 West 59th Street, New York, 10019, United States
Join the WiCyS New York Metro affiliate at the BSidesNYC Conference Village in 2025!
This is more than just a booth; it’s a space for connection, empowerment, and community. Whether you’re a seasoned cybersecurity professional or just starting your journey, stop by to meet our members and learn about the opportunities that Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is offering.
Register HERE

WiCyS Austin Affiliate | October Social
2025-10-18 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Bennu Coffee Highland, 109 Jacob Fontaine Lane, Austin, TEXAS, 78752
Join WiCyS Austin Affiliate at their October Social, where you can connect with other professionals in the cybersecurity field. This in-person event will take place at Bennu Coffee Highland on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 9:00 AM Central Daylight Time. Come network, share ideas, and enjoy some delicious food and drinks. We can’t wait to see you there!
This month, Yaamini Barathi Mohan, Vice President of the WiCyS Austin Affiliate, hosts our gathering!

Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow cybersecurity professionals and grow your network! RSVP for this event HERE

WiCyS | Start a Future in Cyber
2025-10-20 - 2025-10-25 | Virtual
Join WiCyS and the Cyber Education Alliance to prepare young adults for futures in cybersecurity. Share GetCyberSmart.org with students and teachers for a wide range of cybersecurity opportunities.

Learn more about the alliance’s ongoing initiatives and Get Cyber Smart HERE

WiCyS | Amazon x HackerOne "Together We Hack" Capture the Flag (CTF)
2025-10-20 08:00 - 2025-10-21 17:00 UTC | Amazon HQ2, Arlington, VA, United States
Join us for “Together We Hack,” an exciting Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge co-hosted by Amazon, HackerOne, and Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS). Open to both experienced professionals and cybersecurity enthusiasts, this event provides skill-building opportunities, industry networking, and career development through keynote presentations and engaging challenges. WiCyS Founder Ambareen Siraj will be kicking off the event on-site at Amazon HQ2!
The two-day in-person ONLY event will be held October 20-21 at Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia. The challenge categories may include AI, web, pwn, and networking. While participation is individual, collaboration is permitted.
There will be 130 attendees, with a goal of attracting mid-level career professionals (2+ years of post-graduate industry experience preferred).
Please apply HERE and view details, requirements and timeline

WiCyS | CSA AI Summit Q4 2025
2025-10-22 10:00 - 2025-10-23 15:00 UTC | Virtual
WiCyS is a proud supporter of the Cloud Security Alliance’s (CSA) AI Summit Q4 2025.
As AI continues to explode and fundamentally change the cybersecurity landscape, CSA’s leadership in defining security frameworks and assurance models for AI-as-a-Service is even more critical. The Q4 Virtual AI Summit will feature actionable insights on navigating the complexities of AI in cloud environments, with a focus on security, governance, and compliance.
Day 1: Will focus on the growing role of GenAI in cybersecurity, covering best practices for harnessing GenAI to enhance security without compromising privacy or compliance.
Day 2: Will dive into Agentic AI and its evolving role in cybersecurity, focusing on ensuring its safe, ethical, and responsible integration into enterprise infrastructures.

For the full agenda and to register for this FREE event, visit HERE

WiCyS West Africa | Generative AI — Tool or Weapon?
2025-10-22 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | Virtual
Next on WiCyS West Africa Cyber Month Lineup: Generative AI — Tool or Weapon? The next activity in the series is a thought-provoking webinar on one of the most talked-about topics in tech today. Join virtually to explore how generative AI is reshaping cybersecurity, its potential benefits, and the emerging risks that come with it.
Scheduled Speaker: Tracy B. – AI Strategist, shaping Generative AI strategy for a Fortune 100 Tech Provider

Register HERE
