Leader to Watch Feature: Dr. Bilyana Lilly
At ReynCon Security, we recognize that the strength of our industry comes from the leaders shaping its future. Fortunately, some remarkable individuals are forging new paths in cybersecurity. We’re excited to spotlight these trailblazers and share their insights on leadership, challenges, and growth.
This time, we’re thrilled to feature Dr. Bilyana Lilly. Dr. Lilly is a distinguished expert in cybersecurity and international relations, with a career that spans advising high-profile organizations such as the U.S. Pentagon, the White House, and NATO in addition to Fortune 100 companies. As CEO of BVT Insight LLC, she applies her extensive experience to guide companies through complex cybersecurity challenges and geopolitical risks. Her groundbreaking research on AI for cyber defense and her work on detecting disinformation have significantly influenced the field, ensuring that she remains at the forefront of addressing emerging threats in the digital age.
We asked Dr. Bilyana Lilly:
❔What is the most rewarding aspect of advising high-profile clients such as the U.S. Pentagon, the National Security Council, and the White House on cybersecurity?
🅰️ To me, the most rewarding aspect of advising such clients is the direct relevance of the questions I am addressing. The problems and issues I am called to advise on pertain to significant U.S. government foreign policy topics that can directly influence how the U.S. government prepares for war, how it enhances its resilience in cyberspace, and how it responds to current global conflicts.
❔What cybersecurity trends or threats do you find most critical for companies and governments to be aware of today?
🅰️ How global conflict zones and human rights violations affect business operations and business supply chains are major trends I am observing and advising on at the moment. For example, global corporations with parts of their supply chain in China’s Xinjiang province which is known for concentration camps and forced labor, have been scaling down their production in the region. Other considerations that have impacted decoupling and de-risking strategies include the escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, China’s surveillance of foreign companies in China, and corporate espionage. All these issues establish volatility and uncertainty in China’s business environment which has prompted global companies to consider segmenting their Chinese business and looking for alternative production sites and markets.
❔Where do you see the biggest opportunities for leveraging AI in cybersecurity?
🅰️ I am especially excited and optimistic to see AI applied to automating pentesting, vulnerability management, and the SOC, as well as automating deepfake detection.
❔How did writing “Digital Mindhunters” influence your perspective on the evolving cyber threat landscape?
🅰️ It reinforced my belief that the cyber threat landscape is as diverse and multifaceted as the cyber defenders combatting it, and that the U.S. and our allies face multiple threats from multiple sources all at once. In the book, the main character discovers cyber threats emanating from China and Russia simultaneously and finds herself fighting multiple battles, from stopping arms deals to preventing violent protests and assassinations all at the same time.
Thank you, Dr. Lilly, for sharing your invaluable insights with us. We are honored to collaborate with you at ReynCon Security and look forward to continuing to address the challenges and opportunities in cybersecurity together.
Don’t miss the chance to dive deeper into the world of cyber warfare and international espionage by checking out her gripping new book, Digital Mindhunters. This thrilling narrative not only entertains but also sheds light on the pressing issues we face today. Available now on Amazon: Digital Mindhunters by Dr. Bilyana Lilly.
