CyLab hosts industry leaders at the 2025 Partners Conference

CyLab's focus on institutional and corporate collaboration was on full display at its annual Partners Conference.

The conference, held October 28-29 at Carnegie Mellon University, highlighted the latest research in security and privacy with an interactive forum between faculty, students, industry, and government.

“Over the past two decades, we have worked across the entire university, and I think that has really enabled us to take a much more interdisciplinary and holistic approach to security and privacy than you often find at academic security research centers,” said Lorrie Cranor, CyLab director, during opening remarks.

The hybrid event included two student poster sessions and a forum featuring more than 40 faculty, student, and partner presentations that focused on various aspects of seven topic areas, including, partnerships and initiatives; privacy; software security; generative AI and M;, system and hardware security; crypto and blockchain; and usability and human factors.

During the forum, Serge Egelman, founder and chief scientist at AppCensus, was officially recognized as CyLab's 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award winner. Egelman presented his research on legal anonymity and consent in the data economy and received the award from Cranor, his former CyLab advisor.

“It’s an oxymoron when data is both ‘deidentified’ and ‘reidentifiable,' and this is in law, ” Egelman said during his presentation.

In addition to the forum, participants had the opportunity to connect with colleagues and CyLab faculty members during network sessions and a Tuesday night dinner at Mansion on Fifth.

The conference concluded with Cyber Innovators Connect, a networking event that gave participants a chance to engage some of the most innovative cybersecurity startups and investors, along with CyLab faculty and student researchers.

 

Our partners spark ideas here that translate into real value for their companies.

Jason Griess, associate director of partnerships, CyLab

“Cyber innovators Connect isn’t just about showcasing startups,” said Michael Lisanti, CyLab senior director of partnerships. “It’s about giving our partners early access to ideas, talent, and technologies that will influence the industry for years to come.

“It reflects the unique strength of the CMU ecosystem, where research and innovation fuel each other.”

In addition to networking opportunities, CyLab Innovators Connect featured Lightning talks from AWS Startups and CyLab Venture Network startups including Abstract Security, Apacen, Incalmo, Rockfish Data, Tensor Machines, and Trent AI.

“The CyLab Partners Conference creates meaningful space for partners to build relationships with our faculty and students,” said Jason Griess, CyLab associate director of partnerships. “Our partners spark ideas here that translate into real value for their companies, and we get to better understand their priorities and aspirations.”

Bridging the gap between academia and industry, the CyLab Partners Program aims to drive advancements in cybersecurity, enhance the preparedness of the cybersecurity workforce, and contribute to the development of effective and scalable security technologies.

CyLab’s partners include a diverse group of businesses and institutions, ranging from industry-leading corporations to innovative startups, as well as government agencies in the U.S. and international partner countries.

Through their participation in the CyLab Partners Program, organizations gain a comprehensive set of benefits that enhance their cybersecurity capabilities, strateg applications and impact.

To learn more about partnering with the Carnegie Mellon CyLab Security and Privacy Institute, contact Michael Lisanti, senior director of partnerships, at mlisanti@cmu.edu or 412-268-1870.