Technology Changes, but People Don’t – And Why That’s a Good Thing

While the way people interact with technology is rapidly changing, the ways in which the human brain fundamentally processes and responds to information has remained largely the same. This is generally used to present humans as a weak link in the chain, a factor unprepared to face the challenges posed by modern threat actors. However, in this talk, I will argue that this common biology in fact represents the greatest opportunity for cyber security professionals to reduce risk. By understanding the stable predispositions and motivational processes that drive behaviour, we can maximise the effectiveness of security strategies and interventions. To make this case, we will explore a real-life cybersecurity scenario and use key psychological theories to predict outcomes. I will then end the session with practical advise on how security leaders can embed these principles into their behavioural detection and response programmes.

Lee Casey

Dr Lee Casey is an applied behavioural scientist who applies his research and analytical skills in cyber security to quantify and influence behavioural risk and develop novel tools. Notably, Lee has contributed to the 2025 NATO/PfPC Cyber Reference Curriculum and has produced reports such as "Beyond Training: Shaping Cyber Security Behaviours in the Workpace". He has also regularly guest lectured on cyber behavioural topics for both industry and academic organisations, such as when he spoke at the British Computing Society SM-ITAM Annual Conference on what cyber security and GRC teams can do to foster human-centric compliance. He also has experience working with a range of UK domestic companies, as well as UN specialised agencies in Switzerland and the Netherlands as part of his role as Cyber Behaviour Analyst Lead at Recyber. Lee also works as an Associate Tutor for the Department of Psychology, at the University of East Anglia, as well as a Data Research Assistant for the Economic Inquiry 3* journal through Loughborough University.