The first graduate of Georgia Tech’s Master of Science in Information Security (now Cybersecurity) program recently returned to campus for a fireside chat with graduate students from the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy (SCP). 

The event offered graduate students a unique opportunity to hear firsthand from Dmitri Alperovitch (CS 2001, MS InfoSec 2003), co-founder and chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator and the bestselling author of World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the 21st Century.

Alperovitch shared insights from his decades-long career, which also includes co-founding CrowdStrike, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity firms. 

He recounted how his early interest in cryptography was sparked by working with his grandfather, with whom he started a company in high school focused on encryption technologies. 

“What appealed to me in cybersecurity is that you are never really done,” Alperovitch said. “As long as there are human beings out there that want to do you harm, there are always security problems to solve.”

During the fireside chat, SCP SGA President Anna Raymaker asked Alperovitch about his path to CrowdStrike. Reflecting on his start in the industry, he emphasized the value of hands-on experience in startups. He recalled participating in a Georgia Tech career fair, after which he joined a small email security company in 2003. 

“Every solution we implemented was circumvented in a few weeks with a new tactic,” he said. “That was the best hands-on experience I could get. It taught me that in cybersecurity, you must always take a strategic stance.”

SCP SGA President Anna Raymaker speaks into a microphone during a fireside chat with Georgia Tech alum Dmitri Alperovitch (CS 2001, MS InfoSec 2003). Photos by John Popham/College of Computing

Alperovitch highlighted a pivotal moment in his career: investigating a 2010 breach at Google by a nation-state actor. 

“The industry refused to acknowledge this was a widespread problem, and that realization led me to start CrowdStrike,” he said.

He explained the shift in cybersecurity strategy, where traditional cybercriminals target the weakest companies, and nation-state actors relentlessly pursue their objectives, regardless of a company’s security posture.

“You no longer just have to be better than your competitors. You must stay proactive and vigilant,” Aperovitch said.

He emphasized the importance of paying attention to real-world threats when asked about the most significant area of cyber research.

“You don’t have to be a genius to figure it out. You just have to look at where the bad actors are and what they are doing, and go from there,” he said.

The chat provided students with career guidance, along with an informed and experienced perspective on the evolving challenges in cybersecurity. 

“We are grateful to Dmitri for taking the time to speak with our students,” said Raymaker. “His willingness to give back and share his experiences is invaluable in shaping the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

“Events like this highlight the strength of our community, bringing together students, faculty, and leaders like Dmitri to learn from one another and prepare for the challenges ahead in cybersecurity.”

Alperovitch was in Atlanta to be inducted into the College of Computing Hall of Fame on Sept. 19. He is one of two inductees in the Hall of Fame Class of 2025.