A big thank you to Jessica Hyde and Amy Moles! Thank you, Jessica, for reaching out on my behalf to Amy, and thank you, Amy, for providing me with a ticket to attend this event. I also want to thank Jennifer Parsons Salvadori for reaching out to me on LinkedIn and putting this event on my radar, and everyone involved in planning, organizing, and executing such an amazing event. Lastly, thank you to the speakers. Everyone I had a chance to see was very professional and engaging. The knowledge you all provided was, in my opinion, top-notch.
The 25th annual Techno Security Conference took place from June 4th to June 6th in Wilmington, North Carolina. This was my second digital forensics conference, the first being the 2023 SANS Digital Forensics and Incident Response Summit. Being my first time at Techno, I did not know what to expect. One thing I really appreciated were the emails from the Techno team leading up to the event. They confirmed my registration, provided details about the different activities I signed up for, and included event previews and planning guides.
With over 100 presentations happening over three days, deciding which ones to attend was not easy. Fortunately, the organizers planned for this and provided a user-friendly mobile application. The app allowed me to schedule my days, view speaker bios, contact information, and social media links. In some cases, speakers even uploaded their presentations to the app so attendees could follow along or download them for later reference.
Although the conference started on Tuesday, June 4th, early badge pickup was available on Monday, June 3rd, to cut down on long lines. I wanted to check in as soon as possible to avoid rushing the next day. Everything went smoothly, and the process was very organized. I also had a chance to catch up with Jennifer Parsons Salvadori, who, despite being extremely busy, took a moment to speak with me.
On Day 1, I arrived bright and early. Between 7:30 and 8:00, there were coffee and tea stations set up, providing a perfect opportunity to network. I met and talked to Heather Charpentier, co-host of the Digital Forensic Now podcast, who was on my list of “must meet people” at the event. I was already off to a great start.
The conference kicked off with a short opening from the Techno team, followed by the keynote speaker, Ph.D. Roman Yampolsky. His presentation, “Navigating the Artificial Intelligence Era: Challenges and Strategies for the Future of Cybersecurity,” set the tone for an excellent lineup of speakers and presentations. Here are the sessions I attended:
Day 1
- AI and the Impact it Will Have on Children, Digital Forensics, Regulation, and Legislation.
- Speakers: John Pizzuro and Debbie Garner
- Cyber Battlefield Insights: Identifying Critical Shifts & Errors Leading to Intrusions.
- Speaker: Joshua Nicholson
- From Theory to Practice: Enhancing DIF Skills Through Threat Simulation Scenarios.
- Speakers: Ph.D. Ali Hadi and Mariam Khader
- Cyber5w/Leahy Center for Digital Forensic and Cybersecurity: CTF Challenge.
Day 2
- Forensic Analysis of Docker and Containerized Systems.
- Speaker: Matt Danner
- E-SIM and Mobile Forensics: The Good, Bad, and Ugly.
- Speaker: Eugene Cunningham
- Unraveling Hidden Clues and Protecting the Innocent in Crimes Against Children Investigations.
- Speaker: Page McBeth
- iPhone vs. Highway: Multiple Logic Board Faults Repair Live.
- Speaker: Jessa Jones
Day 3
- HANDS-ON LAB: Python – A Crash Course for DFE’s.
- Speaker: Bob Osgood
The Expo Hall/The Scavenger Hunt
I split my time between presentations and the Expo Hall, which featured about 70 different vendors. The scavenger hunt was a “game” where attendees visited different booths to get a “secret code.” Once completed, participants could choose a prize ranging from a ticket to next year’s Techno Security and Digital Forensics Conference to a new pair of AirPods. What I thought would be a fun little activity turned out to be much more. I spent hours walking around, talking to vendors, and learning about different technologies, organizations, and people in the field. It was a perfect opportunity to network and gain insights. I was impressed by how nice and helpful everyone was, showcasing the community aspect of the field.
The 2024 Techno Security and Digital Forensics Conference was a fantastic experience and worth attending. Even though I didn’t have to pay for the ticket, it would have been worth every penny. If I’m free in June 2025, I will definitely attend again.
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