Dr. Peter Garraghan is the CEO and co-founder of Mindgard, a leader in Artificial Intelligence Security Testing. Founded at Lancaster University and backed by cutting-edge research, Mindgard empowers organizations to secure their AI systems against emerging threats that traditional application security tools cannot address.
As a professor specializing in computing systems, AI security, and machine learning, Peter has been driven by a passion for science that creates large-scale impacts on people’s lives. Since 2014, he has researched AI and machine learning, recognizing their transformative potential for society as well as the significant risks they pose – from nation-state attacks to election interference. Existing tools were not designed to address these challenges, prompting Peter to lead a team of scientists and engineers in developing innovative approaches to AI security. Mindgard emerged as a research-driven venture dedicated to delivering tangible solutions to counter AI threats, blending pioneering research with a commitment to industry application.
Peter is an internationally recognized expert in AI security. He heads a major research lab and oversees a significant portion of the UK’s PhD candidates specializing in AI security. He advises the UK government and contributes to DIST’s research reports on AI cybersecurity. With over 60 published scientific papers, Peter’s work bridges the gap between scientific innovation and practical solutions.
Accomplishments
Pioneering innovation in AI security: Dr. Peter Garraghan spearheaded the creation of Mindgard, the first and only solution to apply Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) methodology to AI systems. This groundbreaking approach addresses a critical gap in AI security by enabling engineers to identify vulnerabilities that manifests only during runtime - something traditional methods like static code analysis fail to achieve. By simulating real-world attack scenarios, Mindgard has empowered organizations to secure their AI systems efficiently, saving time and resources while ensuring operational resilience.
Educational leadership in AI security: Recognizing the complexities of AI threats, Dr. Garraghan has devoted his career to demystifying AI security for technologists and non-specialists alike. In 2024, his team launched Mindgard’s AI Security Labs, a free SaaS platform enabling engineers to simulate attacks on AI systems, including widely used models like ChatGPT. This initiative has equipped hundreds of professionals with hands-on expertise, transforming the understanding of vulnerabilities like adversarial manipulation and model poisoning into actionable insights. By bridging the knowledge gap, Dr. Garraghan has set a new standard for accessible education in this emerging field.
Driving a paradigm shift in AI security: Under Dr. Garraghan’s leadership, Mindgard has shifted the narrative around AI security from hypothetical risks to tangible, solvable challenges. His multifaceted contributions, like advising the UK government, mentoring PhD students, and addressing AI security risks for enterprises with the DAST-AI solution, reflect a commitment to empowering others to act against the unique threats posed by AI.
Dr. Garraghan exemplifies the fusion of technical innovation and educational impact, making him a standout candidate for Cybersecurity Innovator of the Year.
About this category: Cybersecurity Innovator of the Year
The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards recognize individuals who turned an original idea into a working security tool, technique or practice. The award covers inventors, engineers, researchers and founders, and the jury looks at both how original the idea is and the difference it made.
An independent jury of security practitioners, analysts and CISOs scores each nomination on leadership, innovation and impact. Each nomination competes in its category against peers in a similar setting and region. Entry packages, sponsorship and public votes do not affect the jury's scores.
Community Choice voting for the 2025 season closed on July 10, 2025.
What is the Community Choice Award?
A separate award decided by public vote, independent of the jury awards. Each completed share of a profile on LinkedIn, Facebook or X counted as one vote.
2027 award season
Nominations closeFebruary 27, 2027
Jury winners announcedWeek of March 22
Community Choice voting closesJuly 10, 2027
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Votes cast by July 10, 2027 will determine the Community Choice winners (independent of the jury awards). Winners will be announced before Black Hat USA.
What is the Community Choice Award? →
Community Choice is a separate award track from the jury-selected Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. Jury winners are chosen by expert judges, while Community Choice winners are determined by public voting. A nominee may be honored by the jury, the community, or both.
Also recognized in Cybersecurity Innovator of the Year, 2025
To keep judging fair, each entry is judged against peers in its segment, so a category can have more than one Gold winner.
