DEFCON 33 once again brought together the global security community in Las Vegas, and the North IT team returned with practical takeaways that immediately enhance our penetration testing services. Across packed briefings, hands-on labs and countless conversations with researchers and practitioners, we focused on what truly matters for clients: realistic adversary simulation, reliable detection bypass techniques and actionable ways to harden environments. This article shares our perspective on the event, what went well, what fell short and how the lessons translate directly into better penetration testing outcomes.
A quick word on the badge experience
Collecting our badges on Thursday spared us the traditional Line-Con wait, but this year’s design missed the mark. DEFCON badges are usually electronic, hackable and a creative puzzle in their own right. In contrast, the 33rd edition delivered a layered plastic construction intended to reveal hidden imagery around the venue. The concept was imaginative, yet the execution proved fragile, with a small fastening working loose almost immediately. It was a minor frustration, although not one that detracted from our primary purpose at the conference, which is to bring back techniques that strengthen penetration testing engagements.
The conference atmosphere and why it matters for penetration testing
Hosted at the Las Vegas Convention Center just north of the Strip, DEFCON 33 filled every corner with a mix of energy, curiosity and healthy scepticism. The villages and workshops were a particular highlight, spanning AI security, hardware hacking, social engineering and physical security. These tracks underscore a point we emphasise with clients: penetration testing is not only about code. Effective testing requires an understanding of people, processes and behaviour, combined with a creative mindset that mirrors how real attackers operate. The breadth of activity at DEFCON reinforces a holistic approach that blends technical depth with human-centric testing.
Talks that advanced our methodology
Not every session ran smoothly on day one, with the familiar pressures of AV and scheduling impacting parts of the programme. By the second day, delivery improved and the content flowed. We prioritised talks that deepen our red team tradecraft and improve the quality of our penetration testing:
We explored AI-assisted exploitation, focusing on where machine-learning-driven tooling genuinely shortens attack chains and where it creates noise. We examined supply chain threat presentations that mapped practical abuse paths from developer workstations to production, reinforcing the need to test CI, package provenance and third-party integrations. We studied advanced evasion techniques for defeating EDR telemetry, helping us design stealthier, more realistic tests and provide more robust mitigation guidance. Each of these areas folds neatly into our methodology for our web app pen testing uk services and general cyber security offerings, from scoping and rules of engagement through to reporting and fix validation, so clients benefit from research-driven penetration testing rather than checklist exercises.
The people make DEFCON what it is
DEFCON’s greatest strength remains the community. We met ethical hackers, engineers, developers and law enforcement professionals who openly shared research, tools and real-world observations. The hallway conversations were as valuable as the scheduled sessions, often challenging our assumptions and prompting useful refinements to our approach. These relationships are important because effective penetration testing depends on a constant exchange of ideas, new detection patterns and emerging techniques. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to compare notes and debate approaches with us.
What this means for clients of North IT
Our objective has not changed. Penetration testing should identify exploitable weaknesses, demonstrate realistic attack paths and prioritise remediation that measurably reduces risk. The lessons from DEFCON 33 directly support that goal. Expect continued emphasis on adversary simulation grounded in current tactics, techniques and procedures, a stronger focus on supply chain testing across the SDLC and pragmatic guidance for hardening EDR and logging so you detect and disrupt intrusions earlier. We have already begun integrating these insights into upcoming engagements, ensuring that every test produces clear, defensible evidence and practical next steps.
A balanced conclusion and a look ahead
It is fair to say that DEFCON 33 was not perfect. The badge experience and early technical hiccups were disappointing, and we sensed similar views among many attendees. Nevertheless, the quality of research and the openness of the community made the trip worthwhile. Looking ahead, we intend to diversify our calendar to include additional conferences that offer fresh perspective and complementary research streams. This balance helps us keep penetration testing aligned with the evolving threat landscape and avoids over-reliance on a single event.
Thank you and next steps
We extend sincere thanks to everyone we met at DEFCON 33. Your ideas, tools and candid discussions are already shaping how we deliver for clients. If you would like to discuss how these insights can be applied to your environment, or if you want to schedule a fresh penetration testing engagement that reflects the latest research, do let us know. We would be pleased to tailor an approach that fits your risk profile, technology stack and regulatory obligations.