AppSec DC '09: Things to Know Before You Go

Headed to OWASP's AppSec DC '09 event next week? Here's a brief primer on what to expect.

November 05, 2009 — CSO —

The 2009 OWASP Application Security Conference (AppSec DC) will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Nov. 10-13. The goal of the event is to give hundreds of IT practitioners a place to learn, interact, network and attend presentations and training given by some of the world's top Web application security experts.

Related article: 6 Steps to Pull App Security Back to the Future

The conference is expected to draw 600-700 practitioners from government, financial services, media, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology and other verticals.

AppSec DC 2009 highlights are expected to include a keynote from Joe Jarzombek, director for software assurance in the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Cyber Security Division (NCSD), a panel discussion of US federal government chief information security officers on their experiences with application security, a panel of industry experts on implementing security in development cycles, and a range of talks by leading personalities in the AppSec arena, including Robert "RSnake" Hansen, Robert Auger, and Chris Wysopal.

Also on the agenda: hands-on training courses led by such companies/organizations as Security Compass, Aspect Security, WhiteHat Security and Inguardians on the 10th and 11th of November (speaking tracks will follow on the 12th and 13th). Opportunities to interact with AppSec sponsors and vendors will also be available, as well as an OWASP-sponsored Capture the Flag competition and other events.

From the mouths of conference organizers:
"AppSec DC is a unique opportunity for federal decision makers and key technologists to become familiar with OWASP and the resources it has to offer. The federal government has already embraced the OWASP Top Ten and other OWASP guidelines. OWASP's mission and community align closely with the goals set forth by the US Chief Information Officer: transparency, engagement of staff, reduction of cost, and innovation in technology. OWASP can enable the government to attain these goals in the pursuit of securing critical technologies that depend on the Web." Doug Wilson, co-chair of the Washington DC OWASP Chapter and organizer of AppSecDC.

"For AppSec DC 2009, We're really trying to reach out to developers, testers and quality assurance staff because they are pivotal to solving the root causes of application security problems. To this end, we have a dedicated secure development track designed specifically for these folks to give them the skills they need to build secure software effectively." Mark Bristow, an organizer of AppSec DC and a founding member of the OWASP Global Conferences Committee

Read more about application security in CSOonline's Application Security section.

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