r/crowdstrike • u/PazzoBread • 4d ago

General Question First Fal.Con Event

First time going to Falcon (and Vegas!) Only one from my org going. My role isn’t completely CyberSecurity focused (I manage our Infrastructure, Identity, and Collaboration teams).

Trying to meet up with others who haven’t been before or similar roles! I’ll be arriving pretty early on Monday with plenty of time to kill. If anyone is interested in setting up a meetup (or if there is one already) lmk!

48 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

56 comments sorted by

14

u/juxtaposed5866 4d ago

It's my third time going to Fal.con. Also infrastructure, Systems, and Network background. Also the only one on my team going.

While it's great to be able to talk shop about security and what is coming, be sure to take time for yourself and check out the wellness lounge and Yoga if you are so inclined.

Don't feel pressured to do anything that won't help your team or yourself. Labs and talks that may seem interesting may be a waste of time if there is another that more closely aligns with your current stack or where your stack is going to be in the next 1-24 months.

The Hub sponsors are great, but only check out the ones that align with your company's strategic goals and that you may want to utilize in the future. The last thing you want is to keep saying "no" to a salesperson who can't take "no" for and answer for a chance to win a Lego set, even if they integrate with your entire stack.

And overall: Don't forget to have a little fun.

6

u/TheScottle 4d ago

this comment is king. I've not been to Fal.Con, but over the past few events, i'm more inclined to find areas to chill, shoot the sh*t, and relax instead of running presentation to presentation. Some of the conversations I've had are much more valuable. Don't be afraid to hand out your cellphone number to those who you vibe with, and ghost and block those that are weird.

I fill my schedule with things that seem interesting (remove the decisions!), and in the moment, I go to the next presentation. If i'm not doing well (Tired, bored, don't want to go to anything), I switch gears. This is how i check in with myself in the moment, giving an constant out.

Also, don't be afraid to walk up to a vendor and say "You look tired man" - and don't get a sales pitch. they've done that 1000x by then. We're all human, be the support if you got the spoons.

2

u/jackhammer909 2d ago

Yes, don't be a "scanwhore" if you don't want to be cold called for the next 2 years

2

u/black_cadillac92 2d ago

Do the vendors get access to the attendee list? Most of the time I flip my badge on purpose lol. If they seem reasonable we'll do the scan thing. But at some events I get cold emailed anyway. "Hey, sorry we didnt get to connect. Would love to reach out!" Yeah thats because I go in with a set agenda and wasn't interested lol.

2

u/mat347x2 1d ago

I'm guessing they do. After last year we were getting emailed/called from a bunch we didnt even interact with while there.

1

u/black_cadillac92 1d ago

Oh boy, this is going to be fun. I think I put down my business cell during registration along with my direct email. They should give us the option to OPT out if we dont want to be contacted.

2

u/oldfinnn 1d ago

The worst is the “Glad to have met you at the event” when I didn’t attend. But I understand the conference is expensive. Vendors pay the bills

1

u/black_cadillac92 1d ago

Yeah its just weird but hey you have to pay to play. Personally im the type to take the time to do research on the solutions or people I need to talk to. I never just acquire a service or software from a vendor without researching, so when I reach out to salesperson im a somewhat informed buyer and I dont need to hear the extra. If im not too knowledgeable then ill reach out to someone who is going to validate or check my thinking before I make a decision. Otherwise theres no reason to try and sell me or wow me. Just be yourself and be authentic, people buy from people they like and genuine relationships and trust go a long way.

12

u/kello711 4d ago

I’ll be there but we have 20+ people going. It’s a fun time.

2

u/loversteel12 4d ago

we were lucky to get three. lol

1

u/DnyLnd 4d ago

Oooo big group of friends!

1

u/felideep 3d ago

Wow it’s only me from my company.

1

u/DkillerUS 1h ago

Let me guess…United Airlines

1

u/RoscoeSgt 4d ago

Damn 20!

1

u/kello711 4d ago

We have multiple people presenting and are a large account too.

1

u/eNomineZerum 1d ago

Rough count, how much is large? 300k, 500k, 1M endpoints? Or is it by total spend/money being tossed about?

1

u/kello711 1d ago

Endpoint count isn’t probably that high but spend may be. Lots of modules.

1

u/eNomineZerum 1d ago

Gotcha, we are in the very high endpoint count, but limited modules and SLED so pushes down spend considerably.

Always interesting to compare the scale and breadth of everything CS has to offer.

6

u/CYBERGOTTI 4d ago

First time for me but I’m on the CrowdStrike side. It looks like it’ll be awesome!

2

u/kello711 4d ago

That's a pretty rare treat. Never got to attend when I worked there. As a customer a very different story.

2

u/Zealousideal_Book817 3d ago

Same. Looking forward to it.

5

u/black_cadillac92 4d ago

First time attending, non-tech, introvert, & solo. This should be interesting lol.

2

u/hallowleg088 2d ago

Tech, introvert and solo. Did you find anything to do?

1

u/black_cadillac92 2d ago

I think I saw there was a wellness spa. Definitely want to see what thats about. Some of the sessions I wanted to attend are full but I also got upgraded to the exec pass so those sessions are on my agenda to attend as well.

2

u/smarthomepursuits 2d ago

Sessions are first come, first enter. Even if registration is full on the app. Just FYI.

1

u/black_cadillac92 1d ago

Thank you for the heads up

3

u/hallowleg088 4d ago

I’m in the same boat. First conference, first time in Vegas and only one from my org going.

2

u/PandaPatchkins 4d ago

First Fal.Con but definitely not first time at a con or to Vegas, but also only one from my org and I’m not purely a purely cyber role either!

2

u/Doomstang 4d ago

This will be my 4th Fal.Con. Two coworkers and I will be getting there late Monday but looking forward to it, even though I'm a huge introvert. They always have plenty of staff directing traffic to help you find what you need. There's something going on at almost all times so you can be as involved or reserved as you want.

I have actually gone out of my way to try talking to others while waiting for the next session and actually found most people to be as awkward as I was, which was comforting. Plenty of people around to spark up a conversation, especially when you've both signed up for the same session so you've at least got a topic in common.

1

u/black_cadillac92 2d ago

How do you conserve your social battery as an introvert at these massive events?

2

u/Doomstang 2d ago

I try to plan ahead. Each person is different but for me, I go in waves. I get my caffeine flowing with a Monster in the morning and try to talk to at least someone at breakfast. I may then keep to myself for the keynote and first session. If I'm still feeling good by lunch, I'll talk to a couple vendors I'm interested in. If I've got a dinner event to attend that evening, I'm probably going to keep to myself most of the afternoon. I just remind myself I don't HAVE to talk to anyone, but I try to set goals for myself.

2

u/black_cadillac92 2d ago

I just remind myself I don't HAVE to talk to anyone, but I try to set goals for myself.

Thanks for that. I actually needed to hear that. Im an introvert but can be an extrovert around the right people. Sometimes I feel guilty if I dont talk to anyone but, I really attend these events to learn as much as possible and walk away with actionable steps. Im usually an in and out type of person.

2

u/thewcc 4d ago

Get to the keynote early otherwise they will send you to an overfill room. Although it's at a new hotel this year so maybe that won't happen. Either way, the keynotes in the morning are pretty great to see up close.

3

u/UrbnShinobi 3d ago

Last year's interpretive dances to open up the main keynote was.......something lol.

3

u/Long_Experience_9377 2d ago

All I could think was “this is where our money goes …”

2

u/sothrowedmex 3d ago

2nd time at Fal.con as an Info Sec Engineer who has Falcon complete. Looking forward to this event again.

3

u/SalamanderNo7293 2d ago

Analyst here with Falcon Complete on our side. Looking forward to talking with folks about how they’re leveraging FC. Just started a few months ago and never worked with a Managed SOC

1

u/tliffick 4d ago

Def talk to as many people as you can! I think this is my 4th Fal.Con and my first bring coworkers. It’s difficult at times when you’re solo, but the attendees are always awesome

1

u/Careless-Bird-4000 4d ago

I’m the only one too!

1

u/na-egejuseyo 4d ago

That is so exciting to hear. I hope you have a blast!

1

u/evehaiku 3d ago

I'll be attending as a non tech customer.

1

u/Admirable_Cell_1291 3d ago

My first time going as well! Are heels a bad idea? I’m packing today and have a cute pair for each day!

2

u/Long_Experience_9377 2d ago

If you haven’t left I’d pack flats. There’s a lot of walking.

1

u/chonos888 22h ago

Lots of walking so hopefully theyre comfortable lol

1

u/UrbnShinobi 3d ago

Your customer liaison if they are attending may host a dinner with you and the other customers in their purview.

1

u/SouthernBoss06 3d ago

Dang my role is similar to yours. I went last year but unfortunately couldn’t get approval for this year. I am planning on going next year with or without approval. You’ll enjoy it and just talk to anyone you want most people at Fal.Con are very interested in networking and the CrowdStrike employees are always cool with answering questions after sessions if they have time. Also make sure go the concert I meet a few high ranking executives who were pretty awesome at the concert. Oh and do take time for yourself and enjoy Vegas during the night and be safe out there.

1

u/vmaharajvk 3d ago

First timer here as well, any idea what the dress code is for the event ? TIA !

2

u/black_cadillac92 2d ago

Always play it safe and go with smart casual. But realistically you can wear what you want as long as its tasteful. Usually when I attend tech events most people wear whatever.

2

u/vmaharajvk 2d ago

Thank you !

1

u/meettp 2d ago

3rd time at fal.con. Its pretty fun event. Good luck

1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

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1

u/smarthomepursuits 2d ago

Mondays are chill. (4th time going this year)

Basically, my Mondays include checking into my hotel, then settling in, and the shuttling over to the convention to register and get my hoodie from the registration desk.

Then we eat, drink, and check out a few vendor booths, then leave and do something else out in Vegas. So, if you plan on getting a bunch of vendor swag tomorrow plan on stopping back to your hotel to drop everything off first before going out. Otherwise wait to grab swag until Tuesday/Wednesday.

1

u/black_cadillac92 1d ago

First time here and at fal.con. I made the decision to not drive so I could relax a bit and not deal with parking. At the conference venue they have a dedicated rideshare point and some waiting lounge. Most of the hotels are within walking distance or about less than a 30min drive. From looking at the agenda nothing really kicks off until later in the afternoon/evening. So I the point is to get here, settle in, pickup your badge, and maybe attend some events later on if you're up for it.

1

u/chonos888 5h ago

I just created a WhatsApp Fal.Con 2026 group chat. Anyone is welcome to join! https://chat.whatsapp.com/FX0WrZZWzSP9q8iLtZXVa4?s=cl&p=a&mlu=4&ilr=4