Student led cybersecurity conference returns to UTSA after three year hiatus

Workshops highlighted practical skills such as malware analysis, digital forensics and the exploitation of security vulnerabilities. Maggie Heaphy, a master's student in information technology and the marketing director for the conference, emphasized the unique opportunities offered.

"We put on some really cool content that gave students hands-on experience," Heaphy said.

The conference also featured an industrial control systems simulation run by UTSA's Cyber Jedis. This simulation mimicked a cyber-attack on critical infrastructure, demonstrating how real-world consequences differ from typical computer system breaches.

"This type of technology runs our country and not a whole lot of people know how to protect this infrastructure because it's different from your normal laptops and computers at home," Peña said. "We wanted to have a testbed that simulates this infrastructure so students could see how devastating it could be when a cyberattack affects more than just a computer system but things in the real world."

Accessibility remained a central theme, with the conference designed to cater to a range of skill levels. Workshops were geared for everyone from beginners to experienced students, and participation was encouraged for all.

"This was a student-focused cybersecurity conference," Peña said. "We wanted it to be very approachable, with something for everyone. Whether people were just getting started or had been at it for a while, we had challenges to make sure they learned something. That was our ultimate goal."

The event served as a networking opportunity, featuring talks from industry leaders and an address by H.D. Moore, creator of the widely used security testing software Metasploit. It offered students a chance to make connections that could be valuable for their future career.

"It's kind of a small world," Peña said. "It's very likely that someone you met at RowdyCon is somebody you might end up working with in the future, so it's a really, really good way to engage with the local community."

Local cybersecurity organizations participated by hosting tables, providing students with opportunities to network and make valuable connections.

"I know a few local companies that wanted to do community outreach, and RowdyCon was a great way for them to get their name out there while interacting with students," Heaphy said. "Students were able to network and share their résumés, creating a valuable bridge between the two that will hopefully continue to grow."