Research student Peter Aaby landed one of the big prizes at the 2018 Scottish Cyber Awards.
Peter, who worked as an IT technician prior to his academic career, was crowned Best New Cyber Talent.
Edinburgh Napier spinout Cyan Forensics was also a winner, of Best Cyber Start-Up, and university graduate Harry McLaren, of ECS Security, was named Cyber Evangelist of the Year.
The Scottish Cyber Awards, hosted by the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC), is now in its third year and the night attracted more than 340 of the sector’s leaders across business, law-enforcement and academia.
The great and the good of one of Scotland’s fastest growing industries gathered at the Sheraton Grand to recognise its top performers.
Peter Aaby has worked on a series of projects at the university’s Cyber Academy while studying computer security and forensics, and also works on innovative ideas with SMEs.
He appeared as an expert on a BBC Panorama episode about identity theft, and is a co-founder of ENU Cyber Security Society.
The ultimate Champion of Champions on the night were Cyber Christmas Lectures, a volunteer-run programme founded in 2012 that will this year see the team visit six locations across Scotland talking to more than 2500 pupils and teachers.
The prestigious Outstanding Woman in Cyber was awarded to three pupils at St Kentigern’s Academy in West Lothian, Catherine Fitzsimons, Amina Tahir and Rachel Cooper, who comprise Turing’s Testers and have recently set up a nationwide cyber treasure hunt to engage more schoolgirls with data science.
In his keynote speech, Economy Secretary Derek Mackay MSP highlighted an industry that is playing a critical role protecting the country economically and socially.
He said: “The Scottish Cyber Awards acts as a showcase for Scotland’s leading talent in cyber security and innovation, which is a growing and increasingly vital part of the Scottish economy.
“Congratulations to all nominees who are at the forefront of protecting and educating the people of Scotland against cyber threats.”
Mandy Haeburn-Little, Chief Executive of the SBRC, said: “What a real game changer Scotland is becoming in cyber security. The calibre and ambition shown in these awards confirms categorically that Scotland is on the map of cyber security.
“This year has been one of phenomenal growth and has included everything from the launch of the Scottish Government’s Cyber Resilience Strategy Action Plans, to an incremental rise in the value and growth of new tech businesses and start-ups through to the announcement of the Tay City Cyber Quarter deal announced just last Friday valued at £11.7 million for Scotland.
“Scotland really does have the potential to become a global leader for cyber security – and so much of that is thanks to the talent in the room tonight.”
Other winners included the first ever award voted for by the public, Best Customer Experience, which was won by Seric Systems.
Also celebrating were Quorum Cyber (Best Cyber Breakthrough), ID Cyber Solutions (Collaboration with Police Scotland), CyberShell Solutions (Leading Light Innovation), Police Scotland Cybercrime Prevention Team (Outstanding Cyber Team joint winners alongside St Andrews University IT Security Team) and Scott Hunter (Cyber Security Teacher of the Year).
Edinburgh Napier also had nominations in a number of categories, including Basil Manoussos (Cyber Evangelist of the Year) SOCLAB (Leading Light Innovation) and MSc in Advanced Security and Digital Forensics (Best Cyber Education Programme).