The call for papers is out. Send an abstract on your brilliant control system security research to S4@digitalbond.com and get a slot in the SCADA Security Scientific Symposium (S4) 2008 program on January 23 - 24. We offer the most generous speaker program in the community so even humble grad students can present their papers including:

• Free room at the conference hotel (right on the beach) for the entire event (up to 3 nights)
• $400 stipend to help cover your expenses
• Waived S4 registration fee
• One hour to present in technical detail to a world class researchers and thought leaders
• Beautiful and warm Miami Beach in January

There was some very cool work at S4 2007. The cutting edge OPC and ICCP vulnerability research that resulted in the US-CERT bulletins and some hysterical articles had the most sizzle. However, there were a lot of interesting Q&A and discussions to move forward most of the research given the level of expertise in the room and those participating virtually from around the world.

How would you like to be explaining a new crypto protocol with Whit Diffie, inventor of public key, and several other hard core cryptographers in the room? Or discuss a new Mean-Time-To-Compromise (MTTC) with the guy most prominently referenced in the paper sitting in the audience?

We evaluate submissions as they come in, so get your abstract in early to improve your chances of making the program. Know someone doing great work? Send us a suggestion for the S4 program. We also proactively look for the most interesting research all in an effort to create the best program.

Last year we had presenters from the US, Canada, Spain, Germany and Italy, and some of the best papers came from people that were mostly unknown in the community. This year I hope S4 can uncover more research that is flying under the radar, and I want to give a special request for a fantastic paper from Australia where I know there is a vibrant SCADA security community.