Black Hat is committed to positively impacting the cybersecurity community and the planet. Below are key sessions, features, partnerships, and resources that highlight Black Hat’s efforts to deliver a responsible and inclusive event.
Inspiring Sustainable Development
To inspire sustainable development in the cybersecurity community, Black Hat is featuring Briefings, Community Conversations, and Networking Events that connect to sustainability, diversity, and inclusivity:
Briefings: Featured as part of this year's Briefings program, Hacking the Status Quo: Tales From Leading Women in Cybersecurity, women of the Black Hat Review Board will highlight their careers, challenges, and successes they have encountered.
Community Conversations: Community Conversations are part of Black Hat's Community Program, which are dynamic, informal gatherings where cybersecurity professionals share knowledge and spark meaningful dialogue. Participants gain valuable industry perspectives while contributing their own experiences, fostering a rich exchange of ideas in a welcoming environment. Topics vary and are not limited to diversity and inclusion, sub-community groups, mental health and niche technical topics.
This year, Community Conversations will be taking place throughout the Convention Center. You can view the full lineup and locations here. Some sessions to check out include:
The Startup Spotlight Competition provides startups the opportunity to showcase their product or solution in a competitive environment. The top four finalists will present their product or solution live at Black Hat USA 2025!
We host annual Student and Veteran Scholarship programs, as well as partner with organizations to expand accessibility to our event in the form of scholarships. This year, we have partnered with the following organizations on scholarships: Breaking Barriers Women in Cybersecurity, The Diana Initiative, The San Franscisco State University Experimental College, Women in Security and Privacy and Women's Society of Cyberjutsu.
Minimizing Environmental Impact
Black Hat USA 2025 is powered by 100% renewable electricity
Our venue, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center focuses on various sustainability initiatives, including extensive food waste management and renewable energy programs, powering 90% of their daytime energy usage onsite via their solar array
We partner with Mandalay Bay on energy efficiency measures to reduce event emissions
Mandalay Bay has an excellent waste management program, ensuring as much event materials as possible are either reused or recycled. All food waste is either donated to the local community or used as pig swill in local livestock farms
Officially beginning in 2022, Black Hat USA will no longer incorporate aisle floor carpet within the design of the Business Hall, in order to help minimize the environmental impact often associated with short-term usage of carpet. The specific square footage of the amount of carpet that Black Hat USA 2025 will prevent from being sent to the landfill will be made available soon.
We preference digital signage and encourage exhibitors and sponsors to think about sustainability in their procurement choices.
Water refill stations are available throughout the convention center.
Designing Socially Responsible Events
Black Hat has developed a Code of Conduct and Sustainability Pledge to hold itself, our attendees, vendors, and contractors accountable to deliver the best event experience possible.
Pronoun ribbons will be available at Registration and there is an optional field on our mobile app to display pronouns
The following resources will be available to our attendees: a prayer room, mother's room, childcare, closed captioning for our keynote and open captioning for recorded content.
Briefings and Keynotes will include reserved accessible seating
We work with a number of Conference Associates who dedicate their time to help ensure attendees have an excellent event experience. In return, they receive complimentary access to the event and the opportunity to network with the cyber community's biggest companies, often resulting in job opportunities.
We have partnered with Opportunity Village for kitting and assembly services for the Black Hat Attendee and CISO Summit Backpacks.
The Mandalay Bay Convention Center complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Hearing Capacity Act, and the regulations and guidelines.
Mandalay Bay and MGM Resorts have long and impactful relationships with the local community that they feed into, such as, providing donations of several event items to organizations like Three Squares Food Bank and Opportunity Village, as well as the Clark County School District.
