Benedikt Abendroth

Senior Cybersecurity Strategist, Microsoft

Benedikt Abendroth is a Senior Cybersecurity Strategist at Microsoft’s Global Security Strategy and Diplomacy Team, which engages internationally with industry, governments and civil society to improve security in cyberspace.

In his current role, Benedikt is leading cybersecurity policy in the area of Internet of Things. Drawing on security expertise across Microsoft's engineering groups, Benedikt focuses on how policymakers can maximize the opportunities by the Internet of Things while ensuring trust and a high level of security across the ecosystem.

Benedikt has a background in economics, international relations, public policy, as well as information security and studied in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States. His professional experience in the private, public, non-governmental and military sectors includes Microsoft Research, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the German Council on Foreign Relations and an NGO in Cairo in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. Benedikt also served in Airborne Reconnaissance and Human Intelligence Operations, including a deployment to Afghanistan, with the German Armed Forces.