RSAC™ Community Code of Conduct

Last Updated on April 2, 2025

Welcome to the RSAC™ Community!

Our Mission

Our purpose and mission are to unite and empower the world's cybersecurity community to create a safer society.

To achieve this, we believe that sharing knowledge and learning together is the most powerful tool we can yield. We are building a place of trust for you to connect, learn, and grow with other members of the cybersecurity community (the “RSAC™ Community”) to actively work toward this mission together.

Our Commitment

In this spirit, RSAC is committed to fostering a safe and productive environment in which open dialogue and the free expression of ideas can flourish with no harassment, discrimination, or hostile conduct. We recognize a shared responsibility to create and maintain this kind of environment for the benefit of all.

As a member of the RSAC™ Community, we ask that you embrace and actively work to foster the type of environment and community that we’re aspiring to build, and to help create a sense of belonging for your fellow members.

How to Make This Community Beneficial for All

If our mission and commitment resonate, you are in the right place! Building such a place involves each and every member. It’s as good as you make it. Here are the kinds of behaviors we are looking for.

Generosity

  • Be a kind human – Encourage others, give kudos, share in others’ wins and engage in discussions with respect and kindness. A little affirmation goes a long way.
  • Give more than you take – Be helpful when you can! Offer your knowledge, resources, and your network to others. What kind of support does your former self wish you received to help you get where you are today?
  • Stay curious – Ask questions of others; seek first to understand. Their perspectives and experiences are enlightening. Encourage others to share their views.
  • Welcome new members – Create a positive experience for all members. Say hello, extend an invite, make a connection. A friendly greeting can make a big difference!

Safety and Privacy

  • Respect Privacy: Protect the privacy and safety of all RSAC™ Community members. Do not disclose personally identifiable information of any third party (including other members) while engaging within the RSAC™ Community and do not quote, name, or share information about other members outside of the RSAC™ Community without their express permission.
  • Use Your Judgment: Discussions and content on the platform represent various opinions and have not been independently validated. Use discretion with the information presented.
  • Engage Sensitively: Foster discussions while being aware of others' feelings and perspectives.
  • Respect Intellectual Property: Acknowledge and adhere to all copyright notices and restrictions related to shared content.

Authenticity

  • Speak for Yourself: Share your thoughts and perspectives honestly, representing your own views and not those of others.
  • Be Responsible: You are accountable for your words and actions.
  • Cite Generative AI: If you utilize Generative AI in your posts, please disclose that.
  • Fact-Check: Before sharing, ensure the information is both true and accurate.
  • Credit Sources: Accurately credit third-party content and cite your references.

Unacceptable Behaviors

As in any successful community, there are behaviors to avoid if you would like to remain in good standing and continue to gain the benefits of being a member. Here are some examples of what not to do.

Illegal and Privacy Violations

  • Disrespecting Privacy and Breaching Confidentiality: Do not post or distribute any information or content that violates a third party’s privacy rights or other personal rights or that violates any obligation of confidentiality.
  • Exposure: Do not announce zero-day vulnerabilities or similar undisclosed security flaws, post or distribute technical data that may violate export control regulations or upload malicious code.
  • Trademark Violations: Do not post in violation of trademark, copyright or other proprietary rights.
  • Illegal Activity: Do not post or share illegal content, solicit or facilitate illegal or prohibited transactions and/or engage in (or attempt to engage in) any other type of illegal activity.
  • Sexual Activity: Do not distribute obscene or pornographic materials and/or materials incorporating nudity.

Deceit and Solicitation

  • Misrepresentation: Do not misrepresent your identity or impersonate others in any way.
  • False Information: Sharing misleading or false information is prohibited.
  • Spamming: Avoid posting repetitive content, self-promotion, or unsolicited messages that disrupt the RSAC™ Community.
  • Sales Tactics: Refrain from soliciting funds or engaging in sales tactics of any kind. This encompasses promoting products or services in a way that feels intrusive or inappropriate within the RSAC™ Community, soliciting personal information such as phone numbers and addresses from other members and/or engaging in other similar conduct.

Harassment and Hate

  • Bullying or Harassment: Debate ideas, not people. Do not use profanity. Shaming and intimidating, abusive, or derogatory conduct will not be tolerated.
  • Hate Speech: The use of hate symbols, imagery, or language is unacceptable.
  • Offensive Content: Posting content that offends based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or political views is prohibited.
  • Intimidation and Sexual Advances: Engaging in intimidation, stalking, or making inappropriate advances is unacceptable.

Additional Expectations for Private Groups

As members of any invite-only private groups, we share a collective responsibility to uphold the trust, confidentiality, and professionalism that define these spaces. We expect all members to engage respectfully, thoughtfully, and in good faith, ensuring a positive experience for all participants. The following additional expectations apply to members of private groups within the RSAC™ Community:

Qualification

  • Eligibility Requirements: Entry into a private group requires meeting specific access criteria determined by the group’s Community Manager or Point of Contact (POC).
  • Ongoing Qualification: Participation in a private group is contingent on continued eligibility. If your circumstances change and you no longer qualify, you are expected to exit the group or will be removed by the group’s Community Manager or Point of Contact (POC).

Confidentiality & Responsible Sharing

  • Encouraging Open Discussion: Private groups are designed to foster deeper, candid conversations in a trusted space. Members should engage thoughtfully and respectfully.
  • Protecting Member Identities: Private groups operate under Chatham House Rule. While discussions may inspire broader insights, specific details, names, and affiliations may not be disclosed outside the group without explicit permission.

Although we expect these standards to be upheld and we will remove people who violate these guidelines, members are responsible for the information they post and should consider using the end-to-end encrypted Secure Chat feature depending on level of sensitivity involved.

Reporting Violations

Though we will try our best, our team and tooling may miss violations from time to time. Please report violations to help encourage a culture of looking out for each other and to keep the discussion in the RSAC™ Community of the highest quality.

If you witness behavior that violates this Community Code of Conduct, please report it to RSAC immediately by taking the following actions:

Mobile iOS App:

  • Click on the three dots to the right of the message to select “Flag Message” to alert a Community Moderator and hide the message from your view.

Web App:

  • Submit a ticket by clicking the "Contact Us" link in the upper right-hand corner of the help center.
    • Please make sure to select "Code of Conduct" & provide a screenshot of the instance”

We take these matters seriously, and we endeavor to be responsive and to support the quality of our RSAC™ Community.

Enforcement of the Community Code of Conduct

In our continued efforts to facilitate a safe and productive environment, we may modify or remove content and discussion in the RSAC™ Community that we determine in our sole discretion does not comply with this Community Code of Conduct. When we observe or are informed of unacceptable behavior, our moderation team will assess the situation. If we determine, in our sole discretion that action is warranted, we will enforce this Community Code of Conduct in accordance the general structure outlined below:

Two-Strike System & Possible Outcomes

  • Strike 1 – Warning & Coaching: You will receive a formal warning via email outlining the violation, along with guidance on expected behavior moving forward. The flagged message will then be reviewed and either removed or reinstated.
  • Strike 2 – Membership Removal: A second violation may result in removal from the RSAC Community. You will be notified of this decision via email.

Immediate Removal for Severe Violations

If a violation is determined by RSAC in its sole discretion to be malicious or severe, RSAC reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove a member from the RSAC™ Community immediately, without following the two-strike process. This includes, but is not limited to, harassment, hate speech, threats, or any behavior that puts other members at risk.

Communication & Appeals

  • Members will be notified by email of any enforcement actions and/or decisions taken regarding their behavior.
  • If you believe a decision was made in error, you may submit an appeal for reconsideration by emailing us at support@rsaconference.com.

Additional Information

This Community Code of Conduct is subject to revision at any time by RSAC and is non-negotiable. You can determine when this Community Code of Conduct was last revised by referring to the “Last Updated On” legend at the top of this Community Code of Conduct. Such changes will become effective immediately upon posting. Your participation in the RSAC™ Community signifies your agreement to abide by these guidelines, which help us foster a safe and engaging environment for all.

Thank you for being a valued member of the RSAC™ Community. Together, we can achieve our mission to create a better society.

For questions, comments, or recommendations on any part of this Community Code of Conduct, please reach out to us at support@rsaconference.com. We would love to hear from you!