EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Cyber Security

Elizabeth Kolade

elizabeth.kolade@bristol.ac.uk

Year 1 Student – 2021 Intake – Cohort 4

​​​​​​​My academic background is in Cyber Security, and I worked as a cyber security analyst where I conducted vulnerability assessment on critical digital infrastructures. The security of cyber physical systems, industrial control systems and critical infrastructures have transcended the application of technological solutions to now include discussions and agreements of trust, identity, privacy, security, and peaceful use of cyberspace across institutions and governments. My area of interest is in cyber policy, governance, diplomacy, and geopolitics. I am interested in studying the intersection of cyber policy, geopolitics and governance and its influence on every day cyber operations across industries, organizations, and nation states towards realizing global cyber objectives, international peace and stability. 

PhD Project

Cybersecurity in the Global South: Exploring the bi-directional relationship between CSIRTs and norms for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace

As cybersecurity has become an increasingly important part of the operations of states and how they relate to one another, international cybersecurity policies and guidelines have been promulgated nationally and internationally to govern the operations of actors in the space. As these guidelines are adopted, contribution, interpretation and implementation may differ across stakeholder groups and socio-economic regions.

 This research explores the role of technical stakeholder groups as epistemic communities in the development and operationalization of international cybersecurity policies. Specifically, it looks at how Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) as epistemic communities engage with the United Nations norms for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, both in terms of contribution to their definition, but also in how they implement them. It will look specifically into the realities of CSIRTs in the Global South.

Supervisor: Dr Andre Barrinha (Bath)

Events Attended

• University of Bristol Global insecurities Centre (GIC) Seminar, Guest Lecture by Dr Andre Barrinha “The emergence of Cyber Diplomacy” - May 2023
• Workshop - “Equality in Action - Advancing Gender Equality in Europe and beyond: is there a role for technology?” (https://www.cost.eu/cost-events/conversations-unscripted-may-2023/)
• Cyber Operations and Cognitive Effects Workshop (18 September) - Closed door workshop hosted by RUSI
• Cyber Diplomacy in a Geopolitical Age (21 November 2023) - https://www.bath.ac.uk/events/cyber-diplomacy-in-a-geopolitical-age/
• CIISEC Live 2023 - 22 November 2023 (https://www.ciisec.live/)