Toby Lewis

Toby Lewis is a cybersecurity expert and the global head of threat analysis at Darktrace, a British artificial intelligence and cybersecurity firm. A Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Lewis brings nearly 25 years of experience in security operations, cyber threat intelligence, threat hunting, and incident management to his role. He holds a master's degree in engineering from the University of Bristol, providing a foundation for his career in national and global cybersecurity.

Lewis began his career within the British Intelligence Services and was a founding member of the National Cyber Security Centre. Before joining Darktrace, he spent 15 years in the UK government, including serving as the NCSC's deputy technical director for incident management. His career has included work on major cybersecurity events, initially focusing on nation-state espionage before the rise of ransomware transformed the cybercrime landscape. His professional journey has taken him from the Army to GCHQ and ultimately to Darktrace, offering a multi-dimensional perspective on the evolution of cyber threats at both national and organizational levels.

At Darktrace, Lewis leads a team of more than 100 analysts across time zones from New Zealand to the United States. He is recognized for his expertise in the real-world application of artificial intelligence and machine learning within cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right type of AI for specific applications and addressing human factors in building organizational confidence in AI adoption. Lewis advocates for a cybersecurity strategy focused on understanding network users and establishing a strong baseline of normal behavior, noting that attackers typically operate outside these bounds.

Lewis has presented at several industry events, including the National Cyber Security Centre's flagship conference CyberUK, the SANS CyberThreat conference, and the Cheltenham Science Festival. He has also been invited to speak on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Newsnight, and at the WIRED Smarter conference, establishing his reputation as a trusted public voice on cybersecurity. Additionally, he has served as a judge for the National Cyber Awards, contributing his expertise in identifying and responding to emerging cyber threats.

Beyond his technical and strategic work, Lewis is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the cybersecurity industry. He was a lead contributor to the first CyberFirst Girls Competition, promoting greater gender diversity in STEM and cybersecurity. His commitment to building a more inclusive industry is further demonstrated through his involvement with The 93% Club, supporting underrepresented communities in pursuing cybersecurity careers. Organizations and event organizers seek out Lewis for his ability to distill complex cyber threats into accessible, impactful narratives, making him a leading voice in the cybersecurity field.