Cyber Security for Decision Makers
In 2015, Prof. Didier Sornette and I recognized a gap in cyber security education for decision makers. At his request, I developed and began teaching a master-level course at the department of Management, Techology, and Economics (MTEC) of ETH Zurich. As the topic grew in importance we developed further courses focusing on specific topics like cyber risk or resilience.
Course Content
The course covers key cyber threats and drivers from historical, economic, social, and technological perspective to help leaders ask the right questions and make informed decisions. We introduce key concepts like the threat landscape, defense strategies, cyber-attack dynamics, threat modeling, human behavior, economics of security, governance, security operations, and modern architectures. Students gain tools to address challenges, navigate uncertainties, and make informed decisions as business managers in the digital world.
Guest Speakers
Each year I invited 4–6 guest speakers who covered diverse topics across various fields, enriching the learning experience with their expertise. A big thank you to all guest speakers for their highly valued contributions
- Badertscher Florian, Bug Bounty Switzerland
- Casey Ellis, Bugcrowd
- Cavelty Dunn Myriam, Center for Security Studies
- Gujer Pascal, Techpro
- Halbheer Roger, Microsoft
- Holzhauser Karin, Swisscom
- Jungo Christof, Swisscom
- Maculan Rudolf, Accenture Security
- Mahmoud Rasmi, decafquest
- Malisa Luka, SIX Digital Exchange, Google
- Ruef Marc, scip AG
- Salomon Maxim, Google
- Stocker Axel, Swiss Armed Forces
- Widmer Ursula, Dr. Widmer & Partner
- Wuest Candid, Symantec
ETHZ Course Material
Access for students and guest speakers only. Contact me for the password if needed.
| Year | Course | Material | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Full Semester | Cyber Security for Decision Makers 2024 | ||
| 2023 | Full Semester | Cyber Security for Decision Makers 2023 | ||
| 2022 | Full Semester | Cyber Security for Decision Makers 2022 |