The History of KazHackStan: How It All Began

Enlik Satieva, Chief Organizer and Producer of the KazHackStan Conference, Vice President of TSARKA Group

Back when everything was just beginning, information security in our region was on the sidelines of public attention. Society hardly thought about cyber threats, data protection, or digital hygiene. The image of an "infosec specialist" was stereotypical — a person in a hoodie, with a laptop, who disliked communication and lived in their own world.

Now, cybersecurity is in the spotlight; it’s trendy, and it’s a necessity. Today, even ordinary people read news about data breaches and hacks and understand the risks. But back then, about 10 years ago, everything was completely different: infosec was perceived as something narrow and unexplored, and there were few specialists in this field.

We started by organizing DEFCON — an international cybersecurity conference, which we held several times in Kazakhstan. These were local initiatives, and each time we saw growing interest. People came, asked questions, and got engaged. But during the process, it became clear: we lacked our own events. We realized that we needed to create our own platform that would not just broadcast others' experiences but develop our own community. Thus, the idea for KazHackStan was born.

We wanted people with technical skills to find themselves in the right environment — so that their knowledge would be used for good, not in the shadows. After all, when there is no space for growth and recognition, talents easily slip into the gray zone. And we decided: it’s better to build our own ecosystem where young specialists can develop openly, with support, in an ethical field. KazHackStan became such a place.

How the name KazHackStan came about

The name KazHackStan appeared almost by accident. When we were organizing DEFCON in Kazakhstan, we needed to officially register our branch in the US. We were asked which country we were from, and we answered: "Kazakhstan." In the process, it turned out that we wrote it as KazHackStan. Since then, we have called our conference KazHackStan.

From hackers to hackers: how we learned to organize conferences

The first and perhaps most serious difficulty we faced was that we had to do everything ourselves. We didn’t have event agencies or professional organizers behind us. We were engineers, hackers, developers — people far removed from the world of events. But everything, from the idea to the stage, from the program to coffee breaks, we did ourselves. Purely on enthusiasm, on faith that we needed this. We needed our specialists to be heard, for our experts to be talked about, so that Kazakhstan and the region as a whole began to resonate in the context of cybersecurity.

With each new step came an understanding: how to build processes, how to work with partners, how to create an atmosphere that inspires. It was a hard but valuable path. And with each new conference, we became not just organizers, but a team that knows how to turn an idea into a full-fledged event.

How KazHackStan has influenced the development of cybersecurity in the region

From the very beginning, KazHackStan was not just a conference — it became a platform that began to change the culture of perceiving cybersecurity. One of the key areas was the development of professional personnel. We see how interest in this field grows every year: more and more people are getting involved, learning, developing, and building careers in information security. Thanks to the conference, training and knowledge exchange have become more accessible. Over the years of KazHackStan's existence, thousands of people who are in one way or another connected with cybersecurity have passed through our ecosystem and continue to grow professionally.

The second important area is participation in state and international initiatives. Based on our platform, large events with the participation of international organizations and states have begun to be held in Kazakhstan: SCO meetings, OSG meetings, cyber dialogues supported by the UN. We conduct both open and closed events, creating a space for trusted dialogue between countries. Our goal is to make Kazakhstan a key player in the region on cybersecurity issues and strengthen cooperation in this direction.

A thousand hackers later

A separate direction that has become an important part of the KazHackStan ecosystem is the Cyber Kumbez competition. This is a tournament where cybersecurity specialists compete for the title of the best in Central Asia. When we first started holding it, there were very few participants — only 9-10 people, mostly individuals from large companies or representatives of government agencies, such as the Ministry of Defense or the State Security Service.

Today, Cyber Kumbez has turned into an international event: teams from not only Kazakhstan but also Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries in the region participate. Such competitions help uncover talents, motivate participants to develop, and form a strong, professional community.

On the KazHackStan stage

Over the years, many bright and truly iconic personalities from the world of cybersecurity have taken the stage at KazHackStan. One of them is Jason E. Street, a world-class hacker who ranks in the top 10 best infosec specialists on the planet. His talk caused a big resonance — not only because of its technical depth but also because of his incredible presentation. We also had Pavel Zhovner, the creator of the legendary Flipper Zero — a tool that has become key in the hands of ethical hackers. He shared the story of creating the device and the difficulties he faced to make a product of global scale.

Among the speakers was also Ralph Echemendia, known by the nickname Ethical Hacker. He is not just a security specialist — he is the one who sets standards for technical accuracy in Hollywood. It was under his mentorship that the cult series Mr. Robot was filmed, which for many became an entry point into the world of ethical hacking. For us, the appearance of such guests is not just an honor; it is confirmation that KazHackStan is a conference of world level and real influence.

Zero Day: a vulnerability doesn’t wait — it changes everything

This year, we are talking about the most unpredictable and dangerous thing — zero day. This is a vulnerability whose existence no one knows about until it has already been exploited. It gives no time to react, doesn’t ask if you are ready. It simply appears — and changes everything. The world of cybersecurity has long ceased to be calm, and it is precisely points like zero day that become turning points. It is important not just to defend yourself — it is important to think one step ahead.