The Alumni Committee, in association with the Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Mangalore Institute of Technology & Engineering, organized an expert talk on “Cyber Resilience in Critical Infrastructures” on 06th February 2026 from 11AM to 12:30 PM. The session was conducted for third-year students from the Departments of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Information Science & Engineering, and Computer Science & Engineering (IoT & Cyber Security with Blockchain Technology).
The resource person for the session was Ms. Anisha Francis Fernandes, an alumna of the 2018 batch and the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Cyber Thistle Ltd., Scotland. She began her professional journey as a Software Engineer at KPIT Technologies, Pune, and later pursued her Master’s degree with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde, UK, where she specialized in cybersecurity risk assessment. With extensive experience as a cybersecurity auditor and standards implementer, she has worked with mid to large-scale organizations delivering governance, risk, and compliance solutions. She has also contributed to UK government policy initiatives while serving with Glasgow City Council. Currently, she serves as Technical Production Manager at Innovation Forum Glasgow and is actively involved in launching a charitable initiative focused on student mental health and wellbeing in India.
The session emphasized the growing importance of building resilient cyber systems in today’s interconnected digital environment. The speaker highlighted how vulnerabilities in software and networked systems can significantly impact critical infrastructure and essential services, thereby underlining the need for secure and robust system design. The technical discussion focused on resilient cyber systems and risk assessment in complex networks. Students were introduced to key cybersecurity concepts, including identification of potential failure points in interconnected systems and understanding the cascading effects of cyber threats on physical infrastructure. The talk also familiarized participants with internationally recognized cybersecurity standards such as NIST, ISO/IEC 27001, and IEC 62443, thereby enhancing their awareness of industry practices and career opportunities in cybersecurity domains. The session concluded with an engaging discussion on industry relevance and professional pathways in cybersecurity.
The event was coordinated by Dr. Vinayambika S Bhat, Head of the Department, E&CE and Dean – Quality Assurance, along with Mr. Ranjith H D, Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering. The session proved to be highly informative and insightful, strengthening students’ understanding of cyber resilience and its critical role in safeguarding modern infrastructure systems.