Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Nov 6, 2026 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
New York
Buffalo, NY cybersecurity events & groups
Buffalo's security community centers on Infosec 716, a monthly Wednesday meetup that is mostly online, with in-person meetings at the Bit Haven hackerspace in the Tri-Main Center, where Bit Haven also holds weekly Friday hangouts. BSides Buffalo is held each June at Canisius University, and University at Buffalo students run the UBNetDef and UBSEC clubs and the Lockdown defense competitions. InfraGard, ISACA and IAPP chapters covering Western New York add professional programs, and the Rochester Security Summit and BSidesROC are about 75 minutes east.
Start here
- Infosec 716: Free monthly meetup open to students and veterans of the field alike, with online and in-person options.
- Bit Haven Hackerspace: Free weekly Friday hangout at Buffalo's cybersecurity hackerspace in the Tri-Main Center.
- BSides Buffalo: The city's community security conference, held each June at Canisius University.
Six months at a glance
Datebook
November 2026
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Nov 13, 2026 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
UB Lockdown for High School (Fall 2026)
Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
University at Buffalo, and online
Team registration closes: Thu, Nov 5, 2026
For high school teams of up to five; limited to 12 teams. No fee is stated.
ConfirmedCTFStudents only
Infosec 716 November Pre-Holiday Meetup
Wed, Nov 18, 2026 · 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Bit Haven, Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
In-person social with a gift exchange and movie night; RSVP requested for food. The page states no fee.
ConfirmedMeetupFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Nov 20, 2026 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Nov 27, 2026 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
December 2026
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Dec 4, 2026 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Dec 11, 2026 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Dec 18, 2026 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Dec 25, 2026 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
January 2027
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Jan 1, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Jan 8, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Jan 15, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Jan 22, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Jan 29, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
February 2027
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Feb 5, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Feb 12, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Feb 19, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Feb 26, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
March 2027
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Mar 5, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Mar 12, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Mar 19, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
BSidesROC 2027
Sat, Mar 20, 2027
RIT Inn & Conference Center, 5257 West Henrietta Road, Henrietta (Rochester area), NY · Regional
Rochester's hacker conference. The organizer page shows the CFP, call for trainers and tickets as not yet open, so no ticket price is stated.
ConfirmedConferencePaid
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Mar 26, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
April 2027
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Apr 2, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Apr 9, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Apr 16, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Apr 23, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Fri, Apr 30, 2027 · 6:00 p.m.
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo
Per published schedule; confirm with organizer.
MeetingFree
On the radar
Announced without a date, or expected from past editions. Not confirmed.
BSides Buffalo 2027
Usually held on a Saturday in early June at Canisius University; 2027 dates not yet announced
Canisius University, Science Hall, Buffalo
ExpectedConferencePaid
Rochester Security Summit 2027
Held each year in October during Cybersecurity Awareness Month; 2027 dates not yet announced
Rochester, NY · Regional
ExpectedConferencePaid
Groups & associations
Professional associations
IAPP KnowledgeNet Western New York
Buffalo (host venues vary) · In the city
Occasional meetings; none scheduled on the chapter page
Privacy and cybersecurity law chapter. The chapter page reads "There are currently no meetings scheduled for this chapter." The latest meeting found was a cybersecurity compliance panel on November 20, 2025, co-hosted with Phillips Lytle at One Canalside, 125 Main Street. Chapter membership requires IAPP membership.
Quiet: last activity Nov 2025Members only
ISACA Western New York Chapter
Western New York (Buffalo and Rochester areas) · Metro area
Irregular; no chapter events scheduled on the chapter calendar
Chapter territory covers 50 miles around Buffalo and Rochester. The chapter calendar reads "There are no events currently scheduled". The latest event previously found on its calendar is the IT GRC seminar held with IIA Western New York on May 8, 2025 at Samuel's Grande Manor in Williamsville.
Quiet: last activity May 2025Paid
Hacker and grassroots groups
Bit Haven Hackerspace
Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351, Buffalo · In the city
Friday Night Hangout every Friday, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.; a Python for Hackers class meets every two weeks on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. through November 19, 2026
Hackerspace open to all skill levels. The Meetup listings for the Friday hangouts and the Python class state no fee.
Free
Infosec 716
Online, with in-person meetings at Bit Haven, Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St, Suite 351 · In the city
Monthly on a Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.; most meetings are online, with some in person at Bit Haven
Meetings in 2026 fell on the second or third Wednesday; check each Meetup listing for the date and format. The October 14, 2026 meeting is titled a virtual meetup and shows as an online event, although its text also mentions an in-person option at Bit Haven. No fee is stated on the group page.
Free
Public-private and government
InfraGard Buffalo Members Alliance
Buffalo and Rochester (venues vary) · In the city
Several meetings a year for vetted members, plus a year-end meeting and FBI briefing each December
Serves InfraGard members in the Buffalo and Rochester regions and works with the FBI Buffalo field office. The chapter's past-events page ends with sessions in 2025 (the latest dated one is September 24, 2025). Its home page still lists a June 30, 2026 meeting with the NY Power Authority in the Lewiston and Niagara Falls area under its events heading, so whether it took place is not confirmed. Registration details go to members only.
Quiet: last activity Sep 2025Vetting required
Education and student groups
UB Network Defense (UBNetDef)
University at Buffalo · In the city
Security classes each semester and the Lockdown defense competition each fall and spring
University at Buffalo is an NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence. UBNetDef is UB's security class and club and sends teams to competitions. The latest dated activity on its own lectures page is a Systems Security lecture on May 2, 2024, but its Lockdown site lists competitions on October 24 and November 14, 2026. The owner confirmed the club is active (September 25, 2026).
Students only
UB Student Excellence in Cybersecurity (UBSEC)
University at Buffalo North Campus · In the city
Talks, workshops and CTF nights during the semester; dates posted on UBLinked
Student club. Its UBLinked event listing shows a fall 2026 interest meeting on September 24, 2026 and a club CTF on October 15, 2026 (Talbert 112, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.); the listing does not report attendance. Spring 2026 events included a CTF, a Wi-Fi hacking workshop and a visit to Bit Haven. No later event is listed.
Students only
Conference series
BSides Buffalo
Canisius University, Science Hall, 1901 Main St · In the city
Annual one-day conference in early June
The fifth edition was held June 6, 2026 at Canisius University's Science Hall. The organizer site timed out on October 21 and 22, 2026, so these details come from the copy of its home page saved on September 25, 2026. Ticket price is not recorded.
Paid
Directory checklist
5 of 19 national directories list a local chapter
| Directory | Result |
|---|---|
| 2600 Meetings | Nearest: Rochester 2600 |
| CISA Regional Offices | Nearest: CISA Region 2; no public Buffalo events posted |
| Cloud Security Alliance | No chapter found |
| Cyversity (formerly ICMCP) Chapters | No chapter found |
| DEF CON Groups | Nearest: DC585 (Rochester) |
| HTCIA | No chapter found |
| IAPP KnowledgeNet | Local chapter: IAPP KnowledgeNet Western New York |
| InfraGard Members Alliances | Local chapter: InfraGard Buffalo Members Alliance |
| ISACA | Local chapter: ISACA Western New York Chapter |
| ISC2 | No chapter found |
| ISSA | Nearest: ISSA Rochester Chapter |
| NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) | Local chapter: UB Network Defense (UBNetDef) |
| OWASP | No chapter found |
| SANS Institute | No chapter found |
| SecureWorld | No chapter found |
| Security BSides | Local chapter: BSides Buffalo |
| TOOOL (The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers) | No chapter found |
| WiCyS (Women in CyberSecurity) Professional Affiliates | No chapter found |
| Women's Society of Cyberjutsu (WSC) Chapters | No chapter found |
Field notes
- Infosec 716 meets online most months, with in-person meetings at Bit Haven; the November 18, 2026 meeting is at Bit Haven. Check each Meetup listing for the format.
- Bit Haven is in suite 351 of the Tri-Main Center at 2495 Main Street.
- InfraGard meetings are for FBI-vetted members, and registration details go to members by email. Its year-end meeting is held each December in the Rochester area.
- A Buffalo Niagara ISSA chapter website (bnissa.org) exists but could not be reached in October 2026; the nearest confirmed ISSA chapter is ISSA Rochester.
- BSides Buffalo's website could not be opened on October 21 and 22, 2026; check it for 2027 dates.
- UBNetDef's Lockdown site lists fall 2026 competitions, but the club's own lectures page shows no dated activity after May 2, 2024. The owner confirmed on September 25, 2026 that the club is active.
Sources
Numbered references for the listings on this page.
- S1https://www.meetup.com/bit-haven-hackerspace/
- S2https://bithavenbuffalo.com/
- S3https://lockdown.ubnetdef.org/highschool/
- S4https://www.meetup.com/infosec-716/events/315741578/
- S5https://bsidesroc.com/
- S6https://www.bsidesbuffalo.org/
- S7https://www.rochestersecurity.org/about-us/
- S8https://iapp.org/community/iapp-chapters/western-new-york
- S9https://engage.isaca.org/westernnewyorkchapter/home
- S10https://engage.isaca.org/westernnewyorkchapter/events/calendar
- S11https://www.meetup.com/infosec-716/
- S12https://www.meetup.com/infosec-716/events/316582394/
- S13https://infragardwny.net/
- S14https://infragardwny.net/events.html
- S15https://ubnetdef.org/
- S16https://ubnetdef.org/lectures/
- S17https://lockdown.ubnetdef.org/about/
- S18https://buffalo.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/ubsec