Overview

As a recognized Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance thought leader, my disruptive articles published in SecureWorld, Darkreading, ISC2, and CyberDefence Magazine have significantly influenced the cybersecurity community. They challenge conventional wisdom, inspiring continuous improvement as an innate quality. One of my most renowned works, ‘Are Windows Event Viewer Defaults Good Enough?’ published in ISC2, provides users with the most efficient configuration for Windows event defaults viewer. This enables security professionals to analyze thousands of events and logs without the need for multi-million dollar software, a true testament to the power of innovative thinking in cybersecurity.

My other thought-provoking article, ” Are CAPTCHAs Still an Effective Security Measure?” published in SecureWorld, challenges CAPTCHAs, which is a Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart, no longer provides the safety net that it provided 20 years ago. There are means that hackers can bypass them. The article ventures into developing the Security in Depth concept to provide holistic Cybersecurity for the organization.

Another piece that I am very proud of is “How to Identify and Respond to End-of-Life and Out-of-Service Operating Systems?” published in CyberDefence Magazine provides a robust solution to IT professionals on End of Life and Out of Service Operating Systems that is a nightmare for professionals.

My contributions extend beyond my disruptive articles. I have served as a judge for over 20 Hackathons for the Major League Hacking Association (MLH), including the prestigious GNEC Hackathon with over 800 participants from around the globe and a prize of $210,000. Furthermore, I am a respected reviewer for IEEE Access, Journal of Computer Science, and Oxford University Press, having reviewed 13 research articles to date. These roles not only showcase my expertise but also reassure the audience of the quality and impact of my work.

My contributions to the IT and cybersecurity community were recognized by top media houses Tech Times and MSN in the articles “Chahak Mittal’s Visionary Approach to Cybersecurity Risk Management,” published on November 16th, 2023, and “Chahak Mittal’s Visionary Approach to Cybersecurity Risk Management” published on April 2nd, 2024 respectively.

My dedication to inspiring the next generation of IT professionals is evident in my role as an instructor for Microsoft Technology Education and Learning Support (TEALS) since June 2023. Under this non-profit program, I teach Cybersecurity school students in Michigan, preparing them for potential careers in the Cybersecurity. I also had the privilege of teaching Cybersecurity and encouraging young girls to consider it as a career through various organizations such as Women in Cybersecurity, Michigan Council of Women in Technology, Women Tech Network, and Eastern Michigan University. These efforts were recognized by PBS Michigan Learning Channel, who featured me on their ‘Future of Me’ show, and Women Tech Network, who awarded me the ‘Community Leadership Award ‘.

I have done bachelor’s in Computer Science and Engineering and a double master’s in Information Security and Cybersecurity. I am also a Certified information systems security professional (CISSP), a gold certification from ISC2. At Universal Logistics, I am a Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance Manager. I have handled critical projects like Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2, Cybersecurity Business Impact Analysis, and Business Continuity Plan.

From the above, I can say with 100% certainty that I have contributed holistically as a Compliance and Audit Professional.

I have never shied from taking on challenges head-on and converting all the stopping stones into stepping stones. I have lived by the motto that “If I fail, then I am failing thousands of girls who want to choose Information Technology and Cybersecurity as a career.” My drive to win this award is not for personal recognition but for the thousands of girls who look up to me. I want this award to serve as a testament to their potential, showing them that if I can succeed, they can, too. This is my way of saying, ‘You can do it.’