Human-Centered Security

The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) is a framework designed to account for human errors. It was originally developed by Dr. Scott Shappell and Dr. Doug Wiegmann and used to analyze aviation accidents within the US Air Force. Robin Bylenga has adapted the framework to cybersecurity.

Show Notes

During this episode, we talk about:
  • How an insider threat at her own company led Robin into cybersecurity.
  • Why looking at the human side of errors and using a framework like HFCAS can help identify the root cause of the problem.
  • How Robin’s research challenges the idea that “humans are the weakest link.”
  • How HFACS can be applied to cybersecurity’s existing frameworks.

Robin Bylenga is a seasoned client-facing expert, having drawn her initial skills early in her career as a flight attendant. Prior to entering cybersecurity, she was the CEO and Founder of Pedal Chic, the first women-specific bike shop in North America. She built the brand, won national awards, and designed a full line of bicycles for a niche market. Then her company suffered an insider threat attack. That experience changed the course of her life and brought her to a new career and the opportunity to adapt the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) framework to cyber.

Learn more about Robin's research at https://hfacs-cyber.com/

What is Human-Centered Security?

Cybersecurity is complex. Its user experience doesn’t have to be. Heidi Trost interviews information security experts about how we can make it easier for people—and their organizations—to stay secure.