Royal Holloway, University of London has been recognised once again as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR) by the National Cyber Security Centre, part of UK intelligence agency GCHQ and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), acknowledging the university’s world class research and expertise in the area of information and cyber security.

As one of the first of a handful of institutions to receive the award when it was originally created in 2012, today’s announcement by the Rt Hon Ben Gummer MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office & Paymaster General reaffirms the significant contribution made by Royal Holloway’s Information Security Group (ISG), a department within the School of Mathematics and Information Security.

Ben Gummer MP commented:

“This Government is determined to make the UK the safest place in the world to live, work and do business online.
“That is why we need truly ground-breaking research to stay one step ahead of the growing threat of cyber attacks. I am pleased to announce the University of Edinburgh as the latest academic institution to contribute their expertise to this vital field, joining thirteen other universities from around the country.
“By engaging with business, industry and academia, we will ensure that we develop the skills and research we need to tackle this growing threat to the UK.”

Professor Paul Hogg, Vice Principal and Dean of Science at Royal Holloway, commented:

“The renewal of Royal Holloway’s status as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research demonstrates the influential contribution our researchers are making to the UK government, business and consumers, by extending knowledge and enhancing skills in cyber security. This is well deserved recognition for our committed body of researchers, who are among the best in the world in a field where trust and integrity are paramount.”

 

Established in 1990, the ISG conducts internationally-leading research in all areas of information security, maintaining close links with industry through collaborations with industry professionals, and drawing on a strong history of consultancy and a global network of alumni from its pioneering Master’s degree programme.

Professor Keith Mayes, Director of the ISG and Head of the School of Mathematics and Information Security at Royal Holloway, said:

“I am delighted that the long-standing reputation for research in information/cyber security by the ISG has been recognised once again, which complements the recent renewal for our Centre for Doctoral Training in cyber security.  This sends a very positive signal to the world about the quality, diversity and impact of our research. As one of the largest academic security groups in the world, we are committed to support Government and industry strategies to help protect the UK and its citizens from cyber attacks.”

The ACE-CSR scheme is one of a number of initiatives outlined in the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy ‘Protecting and Promoting the UK in a Digital World’.

Chris Ensor, Deputy Director for Cyber Security Skills and Growth at the NCSC, said:

“It’s fantastic to see so many leading universities committed to trailblazing improvements to the UK’s cyber security research. At the NCSC, we are absolutely committed to maintaining and improving our already strong reputation as a global leader in cutting edge research, and look forward to collaborating with these establishments to make the UK the safest place to live and work online. These universities conduct world class cyber security research and this initiative will improve the way academics, government and business work together – benefiting the whole of the country.”

Find out more about Masters and research opportunities in the Information Security Group at Royal Holloway here