The Naveen Jindal School of Management will host its Second Annual Cybersecurity Day Nov. 4 in the Davidson Auditorium. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is designed to give students from The University of Texas at Dallas a front-row look at the fast-changing world of cybersecurity.
Students will hear from two U.S. Secret Service agents, faculty experts and industry professionals who will discuss the newest threats, technologies, including artificial intelligence, and career paths.
The day’s agenda includes Inside the Hacker’s Playbook, led by two U.S. Secret Service agents, and Enhanced Cyber Risk and AI Governance, a briefing from Dr. Steven Haynes, program director of Cybersecurity and Risk Management bachelor’s degree program. Afternoon topics will dive into Measuring Cyber Risk and AI Challenges to Cybersecurity, followed by a panel discussion on the Cybersecurity Career Outlook featuring UT Dallas alumni working at AHEAD Inc., RTX, and PwC. The event is free and open to UT Dallas students, offering a rare opportunity to learn, connect and explore careers in one of today’s most critical and fast-moving industries.
“Cybersecurity Day was born from a simple idea: what if students could learn about cyber risk not just from textbooks, but directly from the professionals battling these issues every day?” Haynes said. “I aimed to create a space where industry leaders, students and faculty could share real-world insights, failures and strategies. My hope is that students will leave with the understanding that cybersecurity is not only a technical challenge but also a human, business and societal one. I want them to feel inspired, aware, and confident that they have a role to play in this field.”
Haynes said that cyber risk used to be a topic that was discussed only after an incident occurred.
“Now, it’s a conversation happening in the boardroom before decisions are made,” he said. “It has evolved from being viewed as ‘an IT problem’ to being recognized as ‘a strategic business issue.’ We’ve moved beyond discussions of firewalls and passwords to focus on supply chain attacks, AI-driven threats and reputational risks. Today, cybersecurity is closely linked to trust, ethics and even national security.”
AI, Haynes explained, is quickly becoming a vital partner in cybersecurity governance.
“It assists in identifying gaps in policies, flags compliance issues in real time, monitors third-party risks and summarizes large volumes of threat data for executives,” he said. “Boards and executive teams are utilizing AI tools to gain a faster understanding of cyber exposure and to make more informed decisions. While it doesn’t replace human judgment, AI enables more proactive and informed strategic oversight.”
In advance of Cybersecurity Day, Haynes explained a common misconception about AI’s role in cybersecurity, namely, that it can act as a magic shield, solving all cybersecurity problems as soon as it is implemented.
“AI is a tool, not a comprehensive strategy,” he said. “While it is a powerful resource, it also introduces new risks, such as model bias, data poisoning and an over-reliance on automation. AI does not eliminate the need for human involvement; instead, it increases the demand for intelligent individuals who know how to critically evaluate its use.”
Students who come away from Cybersecurity Day with a newfound interest in the field might be interested to know that the Jindal School can prepare them to meet the cybersecurity challenges that industry leaders are facing.
“We have designed our programs to focus on the intersection of technology, business and risk,” Haynes said. “Students not only learn how cyberattacks function, but also how to communicate risks to the CFO, create governance frameworks, apply AI responsibly and make ethical decisions under pressure. We collaborate with industry partners, conduct tabletop crisis simulations and provide students with real problems to solve, because employers seek not only technical skills but also sound judgment.”
Haynes said that future cybersecurity professionals will need to have learned a critical set of skills and perspectives: technical literacy, risk-based thinking and strong communication.
“It’s important to understand the systems involved, but you must also consider questions like, ‘What are the consequences if this fails? Who will be affected? What could it cost us if we’re wrong?’” he said. “Additionally, being able to clearly articulate these risks to non-technical leaders is crucial. The capacity to translate cyber risk into informed business decisions is becoming as valuable as skills in coding or network defense.”
Collaboration between academia and industry is evolving, Havnes said, because it is no longer sufficient to rely solely on guest lectures and career fairs.
“Industry seeks partners who can help address real-world problems,” he said. “We are transitioning towards co-designed curricula, shared research laboratories, student consulting teams and the rapid prototyping of new ideas. Academia contributes critical thinking and a long-term perspective, while industry offers real-time data and a sense of urgency. By collaborating, we can create solutions that neither side could develop independently.”
Haynes said there will be three defining forces that will define the next era of cybersecurity:
- AI-powered attacks and AI-powered defense battling in real time,
- Digital trust and identity crises, especially with deepfakes, quantum threats, and synthetic data, and
- Cyber-physical convergence in which attacks will affect hospitals, cars, energy grids and everyday life.
“The future of cybersecurity extends beyond network protection,” he said. “It involves safeguarding trust in all digital interactions.”
What: Cybersecurity Day
When: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
