Cyberattacks persistently pose threats to valuable data, resulting in time and resource wastage, and damaging the reputation of companies and institutions worldwide. Even prominent organizations have experienced the severe consequences of cyberattacks, impacting not only themselves but also their customers, collaborators, and society at large. Ransomware such as WannaCry continues to pose a significant threat, encrypting data and demanding ransom payments in Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Furthermore, sophisticated versions of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, originating from various Internet-connected devices like IP cameras, residential gateways, and baby monitors, disrupt major Internet platforms and services, affecting users globally. These examples underscore the increasing power and sophistication of cyberattacks, highlighting the evolving nature of cybersecurity. In the era of ubiquitous systems, with an estimated 75 billion connected devices or “smart things” expected by 2025, the urgency to address these issues is apparent. However, academia’s role in combating the sophistication of cyberattacks remains a crucial aspect. Can academia effectively anticipate attackers’ next moves to safeguard our information assets? How can academia harness the data generated on networks to develop security intelligence and preemptively prevent attacks? This presentation aims to initiate a discussion surrounding these questions, providing an overview of the related research conducted by Dr. Nogueira’s research team, along with future directions in these areas.