📰 In the News
Dr. Erdal Ozkaya Appointed Chief Information Security Officer at Morgan State University
Dr. Ozkaya has officially stepped into the role of CISO at Morgan State University — Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University and a leading HBCU. He leads the university's cybersecurity strategy, protecting research, teaching, and operations across campus.
Read the Full Announcement →December 2025 • Morgan State University
Strategic CISO · Author · Keynote Speaker
Dr. Erdal Ozkaya
Global Cybersecurity Leader with 25+ years shaping security strategy across governments, Fortune 500 enterprises, and global organisations. CISO at Morgan State University. Trusted by boards worldwide.
Leadership Philosophy
Scaling Security as a Strategic Business Enabler
I help organisations scale securely by aligning cybersecurity, business growth, and governance — drawing on 25+ years of leadership across entrepreneurship, global financial services, and the public sector.
My career is defined by a rare fusion of three leadership pillars:
🚀 The Entrepreneur
I founded and scaled an IT/Cybersecurity firm into one of the largest in Australia, achieving a successful exit through acquisition. I understand how to build businesses and drive market adoption — including introducing and growing Kemp Technologies in the Australian market.
🌍 The Global Executive CISO
I served as CISO at Standard Chartered Bank, responsible for cybersecurity across 23 countries spanning the Middle East, Africa, and Pakistan. My executive leadership also includes CISO roles at Xcitium/Comodo and Secunia, as well as serving as a Trusted Security Architect at Microsoft, where I was recognised with the Circle of Excellence Platinum Club Award.
🎓 The Academic / Government Leader
I currently serve as Chief Information Security Officer at Morgan State University, applying world-class enterprise security, risk, and governance practices to higher education and public-sector environments.
Beyond operational leadership, I am a shareholder and board advisor to cybersecurity firms including Binalyze (backed by Deutsche Bank and Cisco) and Neox Networks.
My philosophy is simple: cybersecurity should be a strategic business enabler, not a cost centre.
Academic Excellence
Doctorate in Information Technology
Dr. Erdal Ozkaya holds a Doctorate in Information Technology, underpinning a career spanning over 25 years at the forefront of global cybersecurity. His academic foundation has directly informed his work advising governments, NATO, and the world’s largest financial institutions on cyber strategy, risk management, and digital resilience.
His research and published works have been cited by security practitioners worldwide, and he continues to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world enterprise security practice.
Doctorate in Information Technology
Global Speaking
Speaking Engagements
Black Hat
Keynote Speaker
Delivered keynote sessions on advanced threat intelligence, CISO leadership, and AI-driven cyber defence strategies to the world’s premier security research audience.
Microsoft Ignite
Featured Speaker
Presented on enterprise security architecture, Microsoft security ecosystem integration, and the evolving role of the CISO in cloud-first organisations.
RSA Conference
Speaker & Panellist
Participated in panel discussions and solo sessions on governance, risk, compliance, and the intersection of AI and cybersecurity at the world’s largest security conference.
Global CISO Forum
President & Host
Founder and President of the Global CISO Forum — a premier gathering of Chief Information Security Officers from Fortune 500 companies, governments, and global institutions.
Author
26 Award-Winning Books
Dr. Erdal Ozkaya is one of the most prolific authors in cybersecurity, with 26 published titles covering ethical hacking, digital forensics, cloud security, AI in cybersecurity, and CISO leadership. His books are used as reference texts in universities and enterprises across more than 50 countries.
Advisory & Leadership
Board & Executive Roles
President
Global CISO Forum
Leads the world’s premier CISO community, connecting security leaders from Fortune 500 companies, governments, and global institutions to shape the future of cybersecurity leadership.
Board Advisor
Binalyze
Provides strategic advisory to Binalyze, a leading digital forensics and incident response platform, guiding product direction and enterprise security strategy.
Board Advisor
Neox Networks
Advises Neox Networks on cybersecurity architecture, threat intelligence integration, and enterprise network security strategy for global deployments.
Microsoft MVP & Regional Director
Microsoft
Recognised as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional and Regional Director — two of Microsoft’s highest community honours — for outstanding contributions to the global security community.