An integrated approach to cybersecurity is key to reducing critical infrastructure vulnerability
University of Vaasa
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Bahaa Eltahawy
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As our society becomes more digital and interconnected, the systems that keep it running face growing vulnerability to cyber threats. Bahaa Eltahawy’s doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa, Finland, shows that safeguarding these networks requires a holistic approach.
From power grids and transport to healthcare systems, the functioning of modern society relies on interconnected networks. When these systems fail, the consequences ripple quickly across sectors. In his doctoral dissertation in Computer Science, Bahaa Eltahawy argues that ensuring their security is not just a technical challenge but a societal necessity requiring coordination between technology, governance, and human behaviour.
– Digitalisation has created vast interconnections between systems that were once isolated. The danger lies in cascading effects, where a failure in one sector triggers a collapse in others, causing widespread disruption across society. In two or three days, we’re gonna find ourselves living like it’s the Stone Age, Eltahawy notes.
Cybersecurity, cyberprivacy, and smart grid operations have been studied extensively, but often as separate domains. To address this fragmentation, the dissertation provides a model that expands protection into seven domains, including data governance, socio-technical factors, and risk analysis.
– When protection is viewed from only one angle, new problems inevitably emerge from another. We need experts from different disciplines to complement each other's knowledge, Eltahawy points out.
Protection is a continuous process, not a one-time fix
The study also reveals that many existing standards, such as those governing data protection, cybersecurity frameworks, and smart grid architecture, have limitations that prevent them from addressing cross-sectoral risks. By analysing the weaknesses of these standards, Eltahawy’s work shows where gaps exist and how coordinated strategies can strengthen resilience.
Ultimately, Eltahawy emphasises that critical infrastructure protection is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation between technical experts, managers, and decision-makers.
– Once we believe our systems are safe, that is when they start to weaken. Protection is a continuous and adaptive process that must evolve alongside new risks and technologies, explains Eltahawy.
Dissertation
Eltahawy, Bahaa (2025). An Integration of Cyberprivacy, Cybersecurity, and Smart Grid Strategies for Protecting Critical Infrastructure. Acta Wasaensia 569. Doctoral dissertation. University of Vaasa.
Public defence
The public examination of M.Sc. Bahaa Eltahawy’s doctoral dissertation ”An Integration of Cyberprivacy, Cybersecurity, and Smart Grid Strategies for Protecting Critical Infrastructure” will be held on Wednesday 26 November 2025 at 12 (UTC+2) at the University of Vaasa, auditorium Kurtén.
It is possible to participate in the defence also online:
https://uwasa.zoom.us/j/61748516657?pwd=bToIu1b69wWB0L4CXomtXU4pHOEG8X.1
Password: 884858
Professor Seppo Virtanen (University of Turku, Finland) will act as opponent and Professor Tero Vartiainen (University of Vaasa, Finland) as custos.
Further information
Bahaa Eltahawy, tel. +358 29 449 8506, bahaa.eltahawy@uwasa.fi
Bahaa Eltahawy was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1985. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering at the University of Vaasa. Eltahawy is currently finalising a Masters degree in Project Management while working as a Project Researcher at the University of Vaasa.
Goethe University and the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts partner to advance transatlantic cybersecurity research
Collaboration set within Goethe University’s affiliation with the ATHENE National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity seeks to develop solutions for emerging digital threats
FRANKFURT / NEW YORK. Goethe University and the Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts (IC3) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish closer research cooperation between the Frankfurt-based university and the blockchain research consortium based at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech. The new strategic partnership marks a significant step in advancing transatlantic academic collaboration on critical cybersecurity research.
The MoU lays the foundation for closer institutional ties between IC3 and the National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity ATHENE – Europe’s largest cybersecurity research center, of which Goethe University is a member. The collaboration will focus on several key areas, including joint research initiatives in cryptography and trusted hardware, AI security, privacy-enhancing technologies, web3 infrastructure development and interfaces with web2, and policy development for responsible technology governance. The partnership also foresees coordinated approaches to European and international cybersecurity standards, facilitating researcher mobility, and identifying opportunities for collaborative funding through European, German, and U.S. research programs.
The MoU aligns with ATHENE’s and Goethe University’s broader strategy to coordinate cybersecurity research across leading European and international institutions, and complements ongoing efforts within Germany’s cybersecurity policy framework, European digital independence initiatives, and transatlantic research coordination. To that end, the MoU will help position ATHENE as a central hub for connecting with leading North American research institutions. Whereas ATHENE and its contributing organizations bring extensive expertise in applied cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure protection, IC3 contributes significant strength in cybersecurity innovation, policy research, and emerging technology governance. Together, the two institutions aim to accelerate breakthrough research and develop solutions for emerging digital threats affecting transatlantic security. The first joint research activities are planned for early 2026.
Prof. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt: “This agreement underscores our commitment to building strong international research networks to address complex security challenges. Our partnership with IC3 establishes a vital transatlantic bridge for cybersecurity research and policy development. Such collaborations enhance our ability to protect critical infrastructure, promote responsible AI, and sustain open scientific exchange across borders.”
Prof. Greg Morrisett, Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech: “This partnership exemplifies Cornell Tech’s mission to bridge leading research institutions and foster collaborative innovation on critical global challenges. By establishing these connections with IC3, ATHENE, and Goethe University, we create a transatlantic network that accelerates research on cybersecurity and AI governance – challenges that transcend borders and demand the best minds working together across continents. This collaboration strengthens IC3 and Cornell Tech’s role as a hub for international scientific cooperation grounded in merit and shared values.”
Prof. Michael Waidner, CEO of ATHENE, Professor at TU Darmstadt and Director of Fraunhofer SIT: “This Memorandum of Understanding links Europe’s leading center for applied cybersecurity and AI with one of North America’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems. Together with Goethe University and IC3, we will advance research that strengthens the security and resilience of digital infrastructures on both sides of the Atlantic. This partnership unites complementary strengths in research, application, and policy to deliver practical solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s cyber threats.”
Prof. Haya Schulmann, ATHENE Board Member and Professor at Goethe University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science: “This partnership with Cornell is a strategic step to strengthen ATHENE’s international engagement and position European cybersecurity research within key North American networks. IC3’s expertise in technology and policy complements our applied research strengths. By launching this collaboration now, we’re laying the groundwork for deeper transatlantic cooperation on shared security challenges.”
Prof. Ari Juels, Weill Family Foundation and Joan and Sanford I. Weill Professor at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute and Co-Director of IC3: “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing cutting-edge research in cybersecurity and AI. By connecting European and North American research communities, we’re strengthening transatlantic scientific cooperation and exploring global security challenges together. The combination of ATHENE’s applied research expertise and IC3’s innovation ecosystem creates exceptional opportunities in areas like cryptography, blockchain security, and responsible AI.”
The Initiative for CryptoCurrencies and Contracts (IC3) is the leading academic research consortium advancing the science and real-world applications of blockchain technology. Based at the Jacobs Institute at Cornell Tech in New York City, IC3 brings together interdisciplinary faculty and students from over a dozen top universities, with expertise spanning cryptography, AI, distributed systems, programming languages, game theory, economics, and technology policy. IC3 has pioneered foundational research in smart contract security, high-performance blockchain protocols, trusted execution environments (TEEs), Maximal Extractable Value (MEV), and decentralized finance (DeFi). IC3 researchers and alumni have created influential tools and foundational concepts, spawned blockchain unicorns, and published research that shapes scientific research, industry practice, and responsible technology governance. For more information, visit initc3.org.
ATHENE is Germany’s National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity. Established in 2019 by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Arts and Culture (HMWK), ATHENE is a research center of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft with its institutes SIT and IGD and with participation of Technical University of Darmstadt, Goethe University Frankfurt and Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. Today, ATHENE is Europe’s largest and leading research center for cybersecurity, conducting mission-driven, cutting-edge research that delivers measurable impact for government, industry and society.
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