Maria Markstädter completed her bachelor's degree in "Enterprise and IT Security" (UNITS) and her master's degree in "Enterprise and IT Security" (ENITS) at Offenburg University. Already during her studies, she dealt intensively with security issues of software and hardware systems and worked as a security consultant. Having already been listed as one of the "Forbes 30 Under 30 in Technology" in 2018, the graduate has now received the "Forbes Person Of The Year 2020 In Cybersecurity" award just a few months after completing her master's degree.

The 29-year-old founder of "Azeria Labs" in Berlin specializes in the security of mobile and IoT (Internet of Things) devices based on the ARM processor, which is also used in servers and the new Apple MacBooks. Its customers include major technology companies and law enforcement agencies. She teaches them how to find critical vulnerabilities as well as hackers' techniques and how to make it difficult for hackers to exploit even undiscovered vulnerabilities. As one of the few specialists in this field, she shares her knowledge through lectures and trainings. She is also currently writing a book to help budding security researchers get started in this field.