Cyber Security has become a central issue in our society and a national priority of the UK. Interaction between people's personal devices (far beyond just phones and computers) and the rest of the connected world is nearly continuous and with the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Everything (IoE), its scope will only grow.
In that context, so much can go wrong – every communication can potentially be intercepted, modified or spoofed and surreptitiously obtained data can be commercially exploited or used for privacy invasions. Data flows in society are such that many people already feel they have lost control over where their data goes.
The Cyber Security Group operates within this context and all members bring a particular technological emphasis, focusing on the analysis of particular classes of security problems and solutions. Our research addresses cyber security within the wider context of people’s use of systems and the communication of data in both secure and insecure ways. It also addresses the impact of external pressures beyond the mere technology.
Cyber security naturally widens to include topics like privacy, cybercrime, ethics and law, requiring a synergy of expertise between computing, social sciences and humanities. In order to achieve this aim, the Cyber Security Group played a key role in setting up the Institute of Cyber Security (iCSS) and continues to be its leading contributor.
iCSS (as the Kent Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Cyber Security) achieved recognition as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR) from 2015-2017 and 2018-2022 by the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) – part of the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
The group leads cyber security teaching in the division of Computing, Engineering, and Mathematical Sciences, being heavily involved with the delivery of programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The portfolio of programmes includes the MSc in Cyber Security, which achieved the NCSC full certification status for 2020-2025 and the BSc in Computer Science (Cyber Security). They also provide placement opportunities, allowing students to gain experience in industry as part of their study.