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On 2nd July 2025, we welcomed security vendors from across the industry and beyond to our offices in Wimbledon for the SE Labs Workshop & Awards. It was a full day of insights, lively conversation, and a candid look behind the curtain at how we do security testing.
Whether you joined us in person for pastries and face-to-face chats, or tuned in from afar, the aim was simple: to help vendors understand exactly how testing works, why it matters, and how it can improve your products and your relationships with customers.
A Jam-packed Day of Sessions and Activities
We started off with coffee and croissants while everyone got settled and had the chance to meet the SE Labs team. From there, we moved into a full schedule of presentations that focused on the threats we emulate, the tools we use, and the outcomes that help shape the security industry.
The day’s agenda included:
- Full Attack Chain Testing: A look at how we replicate real-world attacks from start to finish, not just isolated moments.
- Endpoint Security Across Platforms: Testing across Windows 10/11 and macOS to reflect what people actually use.
- Cloud and Email Security: Exploring how we test the broader environments that threats operate in.
- Ransomware: Still evolving, still dangerous, and very much a key part of our testing work.
- NGFW Evasion Testing: Cutting through the noise to reveal what firewalls genuinely stop.
- XDR: An honest view of what works, what doesn’t, and how we test those extended capabilities.
- AI in Defence: Where artificial intelligence genuinely helps, and where it’s still finding its feet.
- Marketing and Sales Through Testing: A talk on how independent validation can support both technical and commercial goals.
We ended the formal part of the day with our Security Awards, followed by a drink or two and then dinner at a local restaurant. It was a proper mix of learning, recognition, and good company.
Hearing From You
What made the day particularly special for us was the feedback and conversations we had with those who came along.
Nick from Trellix told us, “It was a pleasure to attend and meet yourself and the team at SE Labs and learn more about the testing methodology… I thought the presentations were all really well delivered and very informative, and the event very beneficial overall.”
Luis from Gen and Mesfin from NetApp mentioned how welcomed they felt and how useful it was to meet the team behind the tests.
Righard from ESET said, “The content was interesting and better than what we expected… We’re already looking forward to the workshop next year!”
It was also lovely to see Liviu from CrowdStrike, who said he had already started talking to his team about how we might collaborate further.
And Paul from McAfee got in touch to say how much he appreciated both the day’s content and the hospitality. He highlighted the warmth, professionalism and genuine enthusiasm of the SE Labs team, which we were really pleased to hear.
Your observations, that were honest, kind, and grounded in real experiences, is exactly what this event is about. It’s not just a series of presentations. It’s a place for proper dialogue between testers and vendors, where the conversations matter as much as the workshop content.
Who Was There
This year, we had more than 20 people join remotely, alongside a great in-person turnout. Some of the organisations represented included:
- Acronis
- AhnLab
- Broadcom
- Coro
- CrowdStrike
- ESET
- Fortinet
- Gen Digital
- McAfee
- NetApp
- Sophos
- Trellix
Whether people were in the room or online, it was a pleasure to spend the day together.
Next Steps and What’s to Come
We are happy to share the presentation and recordings. So, if there’s something you missed or want to pass on to a colleague, just let us know. There was also a mention of the SE Labs vendor mailing list. If you’d like to be on the list we’d be happy to include you, drop us a line.
Thinking About Joining Us?
If you’re a vendor who wants to get a deeper understanding of how your product is tested, how those results are used, and what’s really going on behind the scenes, this event is built for you. It’s not a marketing exercise or a sales push. It’s about clarity, honesty and improvement.
As Simon from Sophos succinctly commented, “SE Labs event was REALLY good and far better than my expectations.”
We’d love to have you with us next time. If you’re curious or have questions, just get in touch. There’s always time for a chat.
