Professor Basie von Solms, who has been at the forefront of global cybersecurity research for 50 years, has been honoured with IFIP’s Isaac L. Auerbach Award.
It’s only the eighth time the award, named after IFIP’s founding president, Isaac L. Auerbach, has been given in the federation’s 64-year history.
“This award is the pinnacle of my long-standing relationship with IFIP,” said Von Solms in a statement. “I am honoured to have represented South Africa for so many years and to contribute to the advancement of information processing on a global scale.”
Von Solms has played an active role in IFIP for over 40 years, serving as chair of WG 11.1 from 1982-88 and then chairing TC11 from 1995-2001. Von Solms was the South African representative from 1995-2013, during which time he also served stints as IFIP Vice President (2002-2006) and IFIP President (2007-2010). He became an Honorary Member in 2014 for his service to IFIP and received the coveted Kristian Beckman Award in 2010.
Earlier this year, he was ranked 5th in the world for lifetime contributions to cybersecurity research by ScholarGPS, highlighting his immense impact in a field that has never been more critical.
Cybersecurity has become one of the most serious concerns for individuals, businesses and governments.
According to the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Von Solms’ work has been pivotal in shaping how the world understood and combated digital threats.
“Cybersecurity is more critical than ever in today’s world of evolving digital threats. Ongoing research and collaboration are essential to staying ahead of these challenges,” he said.
UJ said that alongside his research advancements, he has mentored over 30 doctoral students and numerous master’s students, many of whom focused their studies on information and cybersecurity.
His also serves as an Associate Director at the University of Oxford’s Global Cybersecurity Capacity Centre and as a board member of the Centre for Cybersecurity Capacity Centre of Southern Africa.
Von Solms dedicated the award to key institutions that have supported him throughout his journey – the Institute for IT Professionals of South Africa and UJ.
“I am incredibly thankful for the time and freedom UJ has granted me to participate in IFIP over the years. This award is a recognition not just of my work, but of the support from my colleagues, students and UJ. It has been an honour to contribute to the advancement of this field, and I look forward to seeing how the next generation builds on this legacy,” he said.
Prof. Annah Moteetee, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Science, said: “We are immensely proud of Prof. Von Solms’ contributions to both UJ and the global community. His work has been nothing short of groundbreaking and we celebrate him for this extraordinary recognition.”
