Putting Cybersecurity in Context: Learning Meaning from Behavior

Hosted by Milos Manic, Ph.D.
Date: February 20, 2026
Location: VCU College of Engineering East Hall, Room E1232

Speaker:
Michael Watson
Chief Information Security Officer
Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia Information Technologies Agency

Abstract: Modern cyberattacks are becoming harder to detect. Attackers now use legitimate tools and blend in with normal system activity, making traditional security approaches less effective. Instead of looking for known malware signatures, we need to shift to understanding attacker behavior and intent. This seminar introduces concepts surrounding behavioral cybersecurity, which focuses on understanding the relationships of security events to each other. We'll examine real breaches and discuss where traditional failures occurred and where behavioral analysis could have succeeded.

Mike Watson is an award winning cybersecurity and AI leader focused on building systems that are secure, trustworthy, and resilient. He is the longest-serving state CISO in the United States, with contributions that sit at the intersection of cyber defense, public-sector technology, and cyber-related artificial intelligence research.

He brings experience spanning cybersecurity, technology strategy, and governance, with a track record of translating complex technical concepts into practical, actionable strategies. In addition to his professional work, he is currently part of a research team exploring behavior based anomaly detection using artificial intelligence. Mike is especially interested in how advanced AI techniques can be leveraged in cybersecurity to strengthen critical infrastructure, improve decision-making, and enhance public trust in technology.