The DeakinCyber–IITM Research Workshop, held on January 16, 2025, at Aryabhatta Hall, IIT Madras, brought together a distinguished group of researchers, academics, and professionals to deliberate on the theme “Realizing Zero Trust Security in Emerging Energy Infrastructure.” Organized by the Centre for Cybersecurity, Trust, and Reliability (CyStar) at IIT Madras, in collaboration with Deakin University’s Centre for Cyber Resilience and Trust and supported by ISEA (MeitY), the workshop served as a dynamic platform to explore cutting-edge advancements in cybersecurity tailored specifically to critical energy systems.

With increasing reliance on digital technologies in power grids, renewable energy networks, and smart utility infrastructure, the workshop addressed the urgent need for implementing Zero Trust principles to ensure data integrity, confidentiality, and system resilience. The event featured eight expert-led sessions covering diverse yet interconnected domains of cybersecurity. From advances in federated learning for intrusion detection to the integration of blockchain oracles into secure systems, and from hardware-level security mechanisms to preparations for post-quantum cryptographic standards, each session offered deep insights into both theoretical and applied aspects of security for emerging infrastructure.

The lineup of speakers included leading cybersecurity experts from IIT Madras, Deakin University, and other premier institutions. Dr. Ansam Khraisat of Deakin University presented on federated learning approaches for enhancing intrusion detection systems. Dr. Shweta Agrawal from IIT Madras offered an in-depth view into post-quantum security technologies. Dr. Chester Rebeiro highlighted recent innovations in hardware security. Dr. Adnan Anwar from Deakin University spoke on ensuring data integrity in energy control systems, while Dr. John Augustine introduced the theoretical foundations of blockchain oracles. Dr. Sivaramakrishnan from IIT Madras explored the use of unikernels in developing secure operating systems, Dr. Kunal Korgaonkar of BITS Goa examined UPI payment security and user satisfaction, and Dr. Shantanu Pal of Deakin University discussed blockchain-based access control in IoT systems.