Suggestions
Avesta Hojjati
VP, Research & Development at DigiCert, Inc.
Avesta Hojjati is the Vice President of Engineering at DigiCert, Inc., where he leads the development of advanced cybersecurity products, including solutions for embedded/IoT device security and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) .12 He has a strong academic background, having earned both his Master's and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, along with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Texas Tech University .25
Professional Background
Before joining DigiCert, Hojjati held significant roles at major technology companies such as Symantec and Yahoo, and he was also the founder and CEO of Security7 Inc., a penetration testing firm .23 His expertise encompasses applied cryptography, security for IoT devices, and addressing vulnerabilities in various systems, including medical devices and industrial equipment .24
Contributions and Achievements
Hojjati is recognized for his research contributions, having authored over 20 journal and conference papers and holding around 30 U.S. patents related to cybersecurity technologies .12 His work has focused on critical areas such as crypto agility and preparing organizations for the challenges posed by quantum computing .15 Notably, he has been involved in initiatives like World Quantum Readiness Day, aimed at raising awareness about the need for robust security infrastructures in light of emerging quantum technologies .1
Current Focus
In his role at DigiCert, Hojjati is also instrumental in shaping the company's product roadmap and M&A strategy while overseeing innovative projects that enhance digital trust for organizations globally .12 His leadership has contributed to significant milestones for DigiCert, including record patent filings and strategic partnerships with major companies like Oracle Cloud Infrastructure .1
Through his extensive experience and research, Avesta Hojjati continues to be a prominent figure in the field of cybersecurity, advocating for advancements that secure digital interactions across various sectors.
Highlights
#mwc2024 was an incredible experience! The excitement surrounding the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (#pqc) for #telecommunications was overwhelming. As my good friend Sami Badri aptly puts it, the Quantum G era is upon us (he gave up at 4G). Special thanks to Kelly Richdale from Sandbox Group for expertly moderating the discussions, and to Taylor Hartley, Diego R. Lopez, and Ryuji Wakikawa for providing insightful answers. I also want to thank Lory Piccirilli Thorpe and Luke Ibbetson for their timely publication of the GSMA "Post Quantum Cryptography – Guidelines for Telecom Use Cases transition guidelines", and Yolanda Sanz for orchestrating this impactful seminar.
I'm eagerly anticipating returning to the beautiful Barcelona in May for #iotswc24, where we'll delve into exciting developments in IoT devices from DigiCert.
The FDA's Digital Health Center of Excellence just released an important update regarding #cybersecurity . As of March 29, 2023, the FDA has implemented new requirements for #medical #device manufacturers to enhance their cybersecurity measures.
These requirements will be enforced under section 524B of the FD&C Act. As healthcare continues to evolve and rely on technology, it is crucial that we prioritize patient safety by ensuring the #security of medical devices. This update serves as a reminder that cybersecurity should be at the forefront of our minds when developing and implementing digital health solutions.
This is a bittersweet moment for me given the countless hours that I spent as a researcher to identify security issues in certain medical devices due to the lack of designing, developing, and deploying medical devices with security in mind (all credit to professors Carl A. Gunter and Kevin Fu for their guidance as part of my PhD program). It has taken the regulators a very long time to identify and implement a solution but I'm glad that we finally have an approach in place.
We need to work together to stay up-to-date on cybersecurity best practices and ensure that patients receive the best possible care. At DigiCert, Inc. we are experienced with complex use cases surrendering medical devices and will be more than happy to help manufactures with solutions that are capabile of satisfying their needs.
#DigitalHealth #Cybersecurity #digitaltrust #FDA #HealthTech
