The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast · LimaCharlie

#254 - Roadmap to Community Cyber Defense with Sarah Powazek, Program Director of Public Interest Cybersecurity, UC Berkeley CLTC

·38 min·3 clips

Christopher Luft argues cybersecurity isn't just for experts—everyone can understand and prioritize it.

This episode features Sarah Płaszek, Program Director at Lima Charlie and Director for Public Interest Cybersecurity at UC Berkeley, discussing community-focused cyber defense. Host Christopher Luft explores her career path and mission to democratize cybersecurity knowledge. Sarah's work specifically aims to protect under-resourced entities like hospitals, schools, and nonprofits. She explains her career began accidentally while studying technology policy and its societal impacts. Sarah describes cybersecurity as an accessible field, not a secret domain reserved for experts. A core argument is that portraying cybersecurity as overly complex discourages public engagement and prioritization. Her role involves bridging the gap between technical practitioners and public policy makers. She develops research and coordinates collaborations to advance cybersecurity equity. Sarah also guides national conversations on protecting vulnerable community institutions. Her background includes advisory roles at CrowdStrike and the Institute of Security and Technology. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics. A key insight is that the cybersecurity industry sometimes benefits from an aura of excessive complexity. This framing, however, can make regular people feel the topic is beyond their understanding. The ultimate effect is a barrier to widespread adoption of essential security practices. Her public interest work focuses on creating scalable, accessible defense strategies for critical community organizations. The episode suggests that equitable security requires demystifying technical concepts for policymakers and the public. Sarah's approach integrates hands-on technical practice with broader policy and educational initiatives. The tone is conversational and educational, framed as an interview between host and expert. The style is direct and advocacy-oriented, emphasizing practical solutions and systemic change. Listeners interested in cybersecurity policy, digital equity, and nonprofit technology would find this episode valuable. Those seeking highly technical, tool-specific discussions might find the focus too strategic or community-oriented.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast