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Bio and experience

Bio generator

Dr. Alexander Krause is an independent IT security consultant and researcher at CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security. At CISPA's site at Leibniz University Hannover, he conducts research in the TeamUSEC group, supervises Bachelor's and Master's theses, and teaches in the area of usable security. He also serves as an IT security expert in the EU project DAISEC2.0. He received his doctoral degree (Dr. rer. nat.) in computer science from Leibniz University Hannover in 2025 with the grade magna cum laude ("very good", 1.0). He earned his MSc in Computer Science with distinction (1.0) from Leibniz University Hannover in 2021 and his BSc in Computer Engineering from the same university in 2019. His research focuses on usable security and privacy: the interaction between security mechanisms and the needs, practices, and limitations of both software professionals and end users.

Experience

  1. Independent IT Security Consultant

    January 2026 – Present

    Self-employed (part-time)Hannover, Germany

    • Strategic IT security consulting for SMEs, focused on NIS2 and GDPR compliance: applicability check, gap analysis, prioritized action plan
    • IT security concepts based on BSI IT-Grundschutz and ISO 27001: status quo analysis, threat modeling, risk assessment, recommendations for management
    • Advice on the secure use of AI and LLMs in organizations: risks such as prompt injection and data leakage, requirements of the EU AI Act
    • Design and delivery of security awareness trainings for staff and technical workshops for development teams
    • Steering external security providers: pentest scoping, tendering, vendor selection, evaluation of results
    • Expert talks for chambers of commerce, business development agencies and universities

  2. Senior Researcher and Project Lead AI/Cybersecurity

    December 2025 – Present

    CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security gGmbHHannover, Germany

    • Responsible for CISPA's cybersecurity and AI offerings in the EU-funded Innovation Hub DAISEC
    • Local organization of SOUPS 2026 in Hannover (about 300 attendees)
    • Technical advisor for IT security and LLM security in research projects

  3. Researcher, Usable Security and Privacy

    June 2021 – November 2025

    CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security gGmbHHannover, Germany

    • Independent lead of research projects, from conception through study design and execution to publication
    • Led three research projects as first author, all with a direct practical focus: handling of secrets in code repositories (USENIX Security 2023), updating cryptographic software (USENIX Security 2025), security of password update processes on 111 top websites (SOUPS 2026)
    • Supervision of Bachelor and Master theses
    • Teaching in usable security and privacy
    • Administration and development of the research group's IT infrastructure and technical study infrastructure
    • Reviewer for leading IT security conferences (IEEE S&P, USENIX Security, ACM CCS, CHI, SOUPS)
    • Doctorate completed alongside the position with the grade magna cum laude (1.0)

  4. Scientific Software Developer

    January 2020 – May 2021

    Leibniz University HannoverHannover, Germany

    • Development of a remote study infrastructure for a research project

  5. Group Leader and Specialist Group Officer

    2014 – Present

    Volunteer Fire Brigade Hannover Bornum (Voluntary Work)Hannover, Germany

    • Leading up to 9 responders in emergency operations, group leader training in Celle-Scheuen (2025)
    • Since 2025 group leader and specialist group officer for logistics and flood protection