Benjamin Yankson

Dr. Benjamin Yankson joined the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity (CEHC) at the University at Albany in 2019. Dr. Yankson is currently an Assistant Professor and a Graduate Program Director in the Department of Cybersecurity at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity (CEHC). He is also the Director of CEHC HackIoT Lab, and founder of Global CyberTech Exchange: A nonprofit project that aims to create and train the future pioneers of cyberspace through knowledge exchange among and between countries, universities, businesses, communities, and individuals.

Dr. Yankson's current research focuses on Privacy and Security of Small Scale IoT security for vulnerable populations (Children's Smart Toys), Operational Security (OPSEC) risk, Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity Compliance, and Cybersecurity Capacity building. He conducts technical and interdisciplinary research that uses mixed methods to address complex Privacy and Cybersecurity problems. His research touches many vibrant and exciting areas in Cybersecurity, Privacy, Information Science, and Complex systems. His Privacy research focuses on addressing privacy, safety, and security risks in small-scale consumer IoT devices (such as children's AI-enabled toys, smart home devices, etc.) using privacy preservation approaches. His Cybersecurity compliance work focuses on adopting new automated approaches that help organizations meet cybersecurity and data privacy compliance requirements such as GDPR, HIPPA, PHIPA, PIPEDA, FERPA, FISMA, COPPA, and other data privacy laws. His OPSEC research and practice centers around design, threat and vulnerability analysis, operationalization of secure control for I.T. Infrastructure, OPSEC awareness, and helping organizations meet ever-changing Cybersecurity requirements.

Over the years, Dr. Yankson gained valuable international experience, which informs his research, teaching, and international collaborations. He was a visiting international Ph.D. scholar at Feng Chai University in Taiwan (2019), Shizuoka University in Japan (2018), and a Research Scientist at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates (2017). Over the last 4yrs, and as of 2023, Dr. Yankson research has led to the publication of over 30 peer-reviewed scholarly articles in high-impact journals and conferences, including but not limited to Internet of Thing Engineering and Cyber Physical Human Systems (IF 5.9), The Journal of Supercomputing(IF 3.3), British Journal of Edu Technology (IF 6.6), Spring Nature International Journal of Information Security(IF 3.2), ACM International Conference on Availability, Reliability, and Security(ARES), and Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences etc. Dr. Yankson frequently speaks to the media about his research, including appearances on ABC News 10, RGB News 6, WAMP Radio, and Spectrum News 1.

Before joining academia, Dr. Yankson spent over 15 years in the Information Technology and Cybersecurity industry and held various technical and leadership roles, including serving as an Application Security Manager for Critical Care Information System (CCIS), I.T. Operations Manager, Help Desk Incident Manager, Systems Specialist, Technical Coordinator, Technical Lead, and Senior Security Consultant. His field experiences greatly inform his research and experiential learning focus teaching style in the classroom.

Dr. Yankson is involved in several initiatives on campus, including supporting DEI initiatives for underrepresented groups in Cybersecurity, serving as Chair of Council Academic Assessment (2021-2023), Member of the Senate Executive Committee (2022-2023), and Senator (2022-2023). He seeks to mentor and is actively engaged in programs to improve access for minority populations in Cybersecurity.

CEHC Courses Taught

CYBR 555/455: Prevention Protection Strategies

CYBR 436/536: Information Security Compliance Auditing

CYBR 306: Information Security Assurance

CINF 899: Doctoral Dissertation

CINF 475: Honors Thesis Proposal

CEHC 391: Research Internship

CINF 897: Independent Study and Research

CINF 124X: Cybersecurity Basics

CINF 456: Senior Capstone Project- Cybersecurity Risk Assessment