What Is RSA Conference

RSA Conference (RSAC) is the world's largest and most influential cybersecurity event. Held annually at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, it brings together tens of thousands of security professionals, researchers, vendors, policymakers, and executives for four days of technical sessions, keynotes, and hands-on learning. The conference has operated for over three decades and remains the definitive gathering point for the global cybersecurity industry.

RSAC 2026 ran from March 23 to 26, 2026. The event featured hundreds of sessions spanning technical deep-dives, policy debates, threat intelligence briefings, and practitioner-focused workshops. Topics ranged from AI-driven threat detection to zero trust architecture, cloud security, identity and access management, and national cybersecurity policy.

The 2026 edition continued the conference's tradition of addressing the most pressing security challenges facing enterprises, governments, and critical infrastructure providers. With the rapid adoption of generative AI across industries, a significant portion of the programming focused on the security implications of AI systems — both as attack vectors and defensive tools.

Who's Coming to RSA Conference

RSA Conference 2026 drew more than 40,000 attendees from over 130 countries, making it the largest gathering of cybersecurity professionals globally. The attendee mix spans a wide range of roles and industries.

Who attends:

• Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and VPs of Security from Fortune 500 companies
• Security analysts, penetration testers, and threat intelligence researchers
• IT directors and security architects from mid-market and enterprise organizations
• Government officials and defense agency representatives, including delegations from the NSA, US Cyber Command, UK NCSC, and UAE Cybersecurity Council
• Startup founders and venture-backed security vendors
• Academic researchers and security educators
• Cloud, DevSecOps, and software engineering teams building secure products

Industries well represented include financial services, healthcare, energy and utilities, defense, technology, and telecommunications. The CISO Boot Camp and Executive Security Action Forum attract C-suite decision-makers, while the technical tracks and Innovation Sandbox draw practitioners and early-stage security founders.

Want to know which companies are exhibiting? Lensmor tracks exhibitor profiles, booth data, and product categories for RSA Conference and 1,000+ other trade shows. Explore RSA Conference exhibitors on Lensmor →

Confirmed Speakers / Key Sessions at RSA Conference

RSAC 2026 featured a broad keynote lineup that included government leaders, technology executives, and domain experts. Notable confirmed speakers included:

• Jen Easterly — CEO, RSAC (former Director, CISA)
• Vasu Jakkal — Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security
• The Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern — Former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Patron, Christchurch Call Foundation
• General Keith Alexander (Ret.) — Former Director and First Commander, NSA and US Cyber Command
• Tim Haugh — Former Director and Commander (Ret.), NSA and US Cyber Command
• Richard Horne — CEO, UK National Cyber Security Centre
• H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti — Head of Cybersecurity, UAE Government
• Ben Horowitz — Co-founder, Andreessen Horowitz
• Hugh Jackman — Actor (special keynote appearance)
• Whitfield Diffie — Honorary Fellow, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; co-inventor of public-key cryptography
• Cynthia Dwork — Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science, Harvard University
• Ali Ghodsi — CEO & Co-Founder, Databricks

Key session tracks at RSAC 2026 included:

• AI Security — Offensive and defensive applications of machine learning, prompt injection, model security, and AI governance
• Zero Trust — Architecture patterns, implementation challenges, and real-world case studies
• Cloud Security — Securing multi-cloud and hybrid environments, cloud-native application protection
• Threat Intelligence — Nation-state actors, ransomware trends, and dark web monitoring
• Identity & Access Management — Passwordless authentication, FIDO2, and privileged access
• Cryptography — Post-quantum cryptography standards and migration planning
• CISO Boot Camp — An intensive leadership development track for senior security executives

Special programs included the Innovation Sandbox competition (highlighting the top 10 most innovative early-stage cybersecurity startups), the Launch Pad series for emerging companies, and the Villages community area for hands-on workshops in specialized domains.

Sponsors and Exhibitors at RSA Conference

RSAC 2026 featured hundreds of exhibitors across the Moscone Center's North and South Halls. The expo floor is one of the most competitive in the technology industry, with vendors competing for attention from CISOs and enterprise security buyers.

Diamond Sponsors at RSAC 2026 included:

• Cisco — Network security, SASE, and threat detection platforms
• CrowdStrike — Endpoint protection, threat intelligence, and identity security
• Microsoft — Azure security services, Microsoft Sentinel, Defender suite

Major vendor categories on the expo floor:

• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
• Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Privileged Access Management (PAM)
• Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
• Threat Intelligence platforms
• Application security and DevSecOps tooling
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and SASE
• OT/ICS and critical infrastructure security
• Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services

The Early Stage Expo showcases startup vendors with less than $10 million in funding, providing visibility for emerging solutions in areas such as AI-driven security operations, post-quantum cryptography, and supply chain risk management.

Lensmor provides real-time exhibitor intelligence for RSA Conference, including company profiles, product categories, and booth locations. Access the full exhibitor list →

Why You Should Attend RSA Conference

RSA Conference occupies a unique position in the cybersecurity calendar. It is not primarily a sales event — it is where the security community gathers to collectively define what matters, share research, and set direction for the year ahead.

The core reasons to attend:

1. Unmatched educational depth. With 600+ sessions across dozens of tracks, RSAC offers more cybersecurity education under one roof than any other event. Sessions range from beginner-friendly overviews to advanced technical briefings that require specialist knowledge to follow.

1. Practitioner-first programming. Unlike analyst conferences, RSAC is built around practitioners. The speaker roster includes pen testers, malware analysts, incident responders, and security engineers who share real-world cases, not just strategic frameworks.

1. Policy and government access. RSAC draws delegations from the NSA, CISA, UK NCSC, and foreign government cybersecurity agencies. If your work involves compliance, government contracts, or policy alignment, there is no better venue to understand regulatory direction.

1. Vendor evaluation at scale. For security buyers, RSAC's expo floor is an unmatched opportunity to evaluate dozens of vendors in a single week, compare solutions side-by-side, and conduct briefings without flying to vendor offices.

1. Innovation Sandbox and early-stage visibility. Tracking the Innovation Sandbox finalists each year is one of the most reliable signals of where the market is heading. Many past finalists have become major security vendors within 3–5 years.

Travel & Logistics

Venue: Moscone Center, 747 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Getting to San Francisco:

• By air: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the primary gateway, approximately 30–40 minutes from Moscone Center by BART or rideshare. Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC) airports are additional options. RSA Conference provides a discounted United Airlines rate for registered attendees.
• By BART: The Powell Street or Montgomery Street BART stations are the closest stations to Moscone Center, both within a 10-minute walk.
• By rideshare: Lyft and Uber are widely available throughout San Francisco. Expect 15–30 minutes from most hotel areas to Moscone depending on traffic.

Hotels: RSAC 2026 offered a conference hotel block with discounted rates. Properties near the venue include the Marriott Marquis (directly connected to Moscone), Hilton Union Square, Hotel Nikko, and InterContinental San Francisco.

Conference shuttle: Hotel shuttles run from partner properties to Moscone Center throughout conference hours.

Weather in late March: San Francisco in late March typically sees highs around 57–62°F (14–17°C) with cool evenings. A light jacket is recommended, especially for morning and evening commutes.

Registration types: RSAC offers several pass tiers including All Access (full conference + expo), Expo Plus (expo + select sessions), and College Day passes for students. Government attendees have dedicated benefits.

FAQ

1. What are the official dates and location for RSA Conference 2026?

RSAC 2026 took place March 23–26, 2026 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. The conference is scheduled to return in 2027 from April 5–8 in San Francisco.

2. How many attendees does RSA Conference draw?

RSA Conference typically attracts more than 40,000 attendees from over 130 countries. The event draws security professionals at all levels, from frontline analysts to CISOs and government officials.

3. What is the Innovation Sandbox competition?

The Innovation Sandbox is RSAC's flagship startup competition. Each year, ten early-stage cybersecurity companies are selected to present their technology to a panel of judges and a live audience. The competition highlights the most innovative new security solutions and is closely watched by investors and enterprise security teams.

4. Can I attend just the expo floor without a full conference pass?

Yes. RSAC offers an Expo Plus pass that provides access to the expo floor and a subset of sessions. A free Expo-Only option is occasionally available as well. The full All Access pass is required to attend keynotes and the complete session catalog.

5. How do I prepare for the RSA Conference expo floor as a buyer?

The expo floor hosts hundreds of vendors and can be overwhelming without preparation. Tools like Lensmor help you research exhibitors before arriving — you can filter by industry, company size, and product category to build a target list. Scheduling vendor briefings in advance through the conference app is also highly recommended.

6. What is the CISO Boot Camp?

The CISO Boot Camp is a dedicated, intensive program within RSAC designed for senior security executives. It covers leadership, risk governance, board communication, and strategic security program management. It is particularly valuable for CISOs who are earlier in their executive career or transitioning from technical leadership roles.