Josiah Dykstra - Trail of Bits
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Wednesday, Apr 09, 2025 04:30pm - 05:30pm ET
Lessons for Cybersecurity from the American Public Health System
Apr 09, 2025
Abstract
This talk explores how the principles and practices of the American public health system can inform and enhance modern cybersecurity strategies. Drawing on insights from our recent CRA Quad Paper, we examine the parallels between public health methodologies and the challenges faced in today's digital landscape. By analyzing historical responses to public health crises, we identify strategies for improving situational awareness, inter-organizational collaboration, and adaptive risk management in cybersecurity. The discussion highlights how lessons from public health can bridge the gap between technical cybersecurity teams and policymakers, fostering a more holistic and effective defense against emerging cyber threats.About the Speaker
Josiah Dykstra is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Trail of Bits. He previously served for 19 years as a senior technical leader at the National Security Agency (NSA). Dr. Dykstra is an experienced cyber practitioner and researcher whose focus has included the psychology and economics of cybersecurity. He received the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) fellowship and is one of ten people in the SFS Hall of Fame. In 2017, he received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from then President Barack Obama. Dr. Dykstra is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) and a Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). He is the author of numerous research papers, the book Essential Cybersecurity Science (O'Reilly Media, 2016), and co-author of Cybersecurity Myths and Misconceptions (Pearson, 2023). Dr. Dykstra holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
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