If you’re heading to San Francisco for RSAC 2026, you already know it’s one of the most exciting weeks of the year for cybersecurity pros. With back-to-back keynotes, innovative sessions, and endless hallway conversations, the days can easily blend together. But a little planning can turn RSAC into a truly game-changing experience for both your career and your organization. Here are five tips for maximizing your time at RSAC 2026.
Plan Your Days Strategically
Don’t try to see everything. Instead, focus on two or three key themes that matter most to your work. Review the session catalog ahead of time, star your must-sees, and build buffer time between sessions for networking or decompression.
As you map things out, make time for the keynote sessions. RSAC 2026 features a strong mix of perspectives across two keynote stages, with speakers ranging from former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to tech entrepreneur Ben Horowitz, bestselling author Michael Lewis, and MythBusters host Adam Savage, alongside dozens of leading cybersecurity experts and innovators.
Another can’t-miss experience is the Villages, an interactive, hands-on space where you can roll up your sleeves and dive into everything from Capture the Flag challenges to live attack simulations and hardware tinkering. It’s a chance to move beyond theory and experience cybersecurity concepts firsthand while connecting with a community of hackers, researchers, and practitioners eager to share what they know.
To stay organized, take advantage of RSAC’s “Create Your Schedule” feature, which makes it easy to keep track of your sessions and ensure nothing important slips through the cracks.
Put on Your Walking Shoes for the Expo
Spanning hundreds of booths, the RSAC Expo is the place to experience the latest in cybersecurity technology up close. Dive into hands-on demos, chat with product experts, and discover solutions that could transform the way your team works. Plus, the Expo has many interactive experiences, giveaways, and mini sessions that make exploring new tech fun and informative.
One booth you’ll definitely want to stop by is Fortra at space #S-1043. Our team of experts will be on hand to discuss our data protection, brand protection, and offensive security solutions. Take a look inside our solutions with a demo or get your questions answered about our current solutions and roadmap forward. You can schedule a meeting prior to arriving in San Francisco if you know there’s a Fortra solution you want to go in-depth on. And make sure to enter for a chance to win an Egofit Walker Plus-M1T Under Desk Treadmill to upgrade your home office into a healthier space!
Network with Purpose
Networking at RSAC is woven into the entire experience. Over the course of the conference, there are numerous opportunities to connect with fellow cybersecurity professionals, from the casual welcome reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres to the lively Expo Pub Crawl where you can chat with sponsors while sampling beverages. There’s even the annual CyBEER Ops Networking Reception, perfect for swapping insights over craft beer, and special meetups like the First-Timer Reception designed to help newcomers break the ice. For more focused interactions, check out the RSAC Connection Hub where you can meet peers, innovators, and industry leaders in a more focused setting or join small group discussions like Birds of a Feather to dig into specific interests with peers.
Recharge Before You Burn Out
RSAC can feel like a marathon, so building in time to recharge is key. Step away from the crowds for lunch, take an early morning stroll along the Embarcadero, or review your notes before jumping into your next session. Staying balanced helps you get more out of every conversation, demo, and keynote, and those spontaneous hallway chats often turn out to be the most valuable moments.
If you want to explore San Francisco’s renowned restaurants or iconic sights, plan ahead. With over 40,000 cybersecurity professionals expected at RSAC 2026, reservations will fill up fast. Picking your spots before you arrive increases your chances of enjoying the city while still making the most of the conference experience.
You Can Leave Your Heart in San Francisco, but Not Your RSAC Knowledge
The learning doesn’t have to stop when RSAC ends. Take a few minutes to summarize your top three takeaways and share them with your team or even on LinkedIn while they’re still fresh. It’s a powerful way to reinforce what you’ve learned and keep the conversation going long after you leave the Moscone Center.
RSAC 2026 is your chance to learn, connect, and imagine the next chapter of cybersecurity. Plan smart, stay curious, and don’t forget to swing by the Fortra booth to see how an integrated approach can simplify your security world!
