InfoSec 2022 – Representing the Midlands Cyber Ecosystem

On the 21st through to the 23rd June, the Cyber Quarter attended Infosecurity Europe 2022 at the Excel in London.

Infosecurity Europe is considered the biggest gathering of the information security community in Europe, which nurtures the growth of the cyber security community through innovation and knowledge sharing, testing and benchmarking solutions, building relationships and driving new businesses. During this 3-day event, Infosec Europe brought together under one roof expertise and knowledge from the world’s finest cybersecurity experts, with the aim of connecting practitioners with suppliers to find true solutions and bringing together industry peers to network, share and to grow stronger and more resilient together.

The Cyber Quarter joined forces with other businesses in the region to represent the Midlands Cyber Ecosystem. We showed not only what the Midlands has to offer in terms of cyber security, but also the strength of the cyber community and the bonds that local businesses share.

Our Knowledge Transfer Manager/Cyber Security Consultant, Oluwafemi Falobi, represented the Cyber Quarter at the event and successfully showcased the Cyber Quarter’s services and offerings, whilst making meaningful connections with other like-minded people.

We caught up with Femi to find out more about his time at Infosec 2022:

Oluwafemi Falobi, Knowledge Transfer Manager/Cyber Security Consultant

“Infosec brought together some of the finest minds within the cyber security community, alongside innovative solutions to new and existing cyber security issues.

Being a part of Infosec Europe 2022 was an amazing experience, which gave me the opportunity to meet knowledgeable and experienced local and international cyber professionals across various information security subdomains.

The atmosphere at Infosec provided opportunities to find new solutions that could be integrated into business processes to increase business resilience thereby ensuring business continuity as well as created great networking opportunities that fosters collaboration and birth of new solutions to problems that plague our cyber space.

I really enjoyed the experience as it has opened doors for partnerships, innovation, and collaboration, which in turn helps maintain a healthier and safer cyber space for all.

Being granted the opportunity to represent the Cyber Quarter and exhibit its service offerings alongside other amazing companies jointly forming the Midlands Cyber Cluster was a major highlight. Engaging students, practitioners, and businesses seeking to know more about the Cyber Quarter’s offerings and how they can benefit and/or collaborate started off a lot of interesting conversations, which are still ongoing, and promises to positively impact all parties involved as well as the cyber community at large. If you want to know more about the Cyber Quarter’s service offerings and how you and/or your business could benefit, feel free to contact me through my email below.”

Contact Femi via his email: o.falobi@wlv.ac.uk

For general enquiries about the Cyber Quarter’s services and offerings, please fill in an enquiry form on our website.

To keep up to date with the latest happening at the Cyber Quarter, follow our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyber-quarter/

Cyber Security & Threats Briefing with the Regional Cyber Crime Unit

On the 26th May, we invited local businesses in Herefordshire to come and visit the Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security for a joint briefing between us and the Regional Cyber Crime Unit (RCCU) to hear a succinct update about the latest trends and threats in cyber at the moment and how SMEs can use this knowledge to further protect their business.

According to the recent Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2022, in the last 12 months, 39% of UK businesses identified a cyber-attack. Within the group of organisations reporting cyber-attacks, 31% of businesses and 26% of charities estimate they were attacked at least once a week. Additionally, just over half of businesses (54%) identified in this survey have acted in the past 12 months to identify their own potential cyber security risks.

Considering these alarming statistics, we joined up with the RCCU to deliver a presentation to businesses in the area. Jack Litman represented the RCCU, and we caught up with him afterwards to hear more about his time at the Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security.

Jack is currently a student at Birmingham City University and is working towards a bachelor’s degree in digital forensics. In September 2021, he was successful in securing an internship with the RCCU and has spent the last year representing the RCCU at various events to help deliver more of these important briefings to businesses regionally.

Jack Litman, Cyber Crime Intern

“I really enjoyed networking with the local businesses around the Cyber Quarter, especially in such an amazing building and venue. It was a great opportunity to talk to people and raise awareness around what the Cyber Crime unit does and give them awareness of what we do and what support they can get from law enforcement reporting routes. It was really nice to be given a speaking slot so that I could talk all this through in a more formal setting and also give the attendees some helpful cyber tips that they could take away from the event.

In my presentation, I went over a bit about the NCSC Cyber Aware campaign and the main take aways that the attendees can think about that would massively enhance their cyber resilience in both their workspace and home space. I also spoke about reporting routes as well, so not just action fraud and cyber crime, but also how they can report things like phishing emails and texts, for example.

I think that the Cyber Quarter building is a really nice workspace and I think it’s an excellent hub of cyber security knowledge and a great place for SMEs to be.”

We’d like to give a big thank you to Jack and the RCCU team for taking the time to come and speak at the Cyber Quarter and for demonstrating how the unit supports local businesses. Stay tuned for more cyber security & threat updates to come in the future!

Jack and the RCCU team will be joining us again at our upcoming ‘meet the neighbours’ family event taking place on 14th July in collaboration with the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.

To register for this event, please express interest via the link below:

https://hwchamber.co.uk/product/meet-the-neighbours-networking-event-3/

To see more of Jack, follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacklitman/

To learn more about the RCCU, click here: https://www.wmrocu.org.uk/

“It’s okay to not be okay” – Supporting each other as a community through stress

To wrap up the topics surrounding stress awareness month, we wanted to look into stress in a little more detail, – it’s causes to how we can help manage it better. For this, we asked Ellen Kay, our Human Factors Specialist, and Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor for ESET for a few words. They both identified several causes for stress and the impact it has on the cyber community.

Ellen Kay – The main cause of absenteeism in companies is ‘stress’ and anxiety related problems which then cause other health problems. And the biggest triggers are emotional and psychological stress. These then ultimately lead to other conditions and health problems, which cause people to be even more sick.

As a result of that, people become less creative. They’re less innovative. They’re less productive. They produce less outcomes. They communicate less. And they’re less engaged in the workplace. All of this is demonstrated by what they do more so than what they say. They are quiet, more reserved, and can become agitated and angry.

These negative behavioural traits then have a direct effect on profits and growth. These people also tend to be sick more frequently, they tend to be more competitive in a way that does not add real value to the business, they tend to resist change more, they’re more hostile, they’re more resentful, they’re more anxious, and ultimately more depressed. These behaviours are easy to see once we become more aware of our own body language and that of our colleagues.

Stressed employees add to the toxic environment that they’re reacting to, which then causes the environment to become more stressed, which causes people to become more reactionary. And the cycle continues. It’s a big problem all over the world.

Continuing, Jake said:

Jake Moore – There are factors that can contribute to stress in cyber security that you might not see in other areas. And one of these is that there is a cyber skills shortage, and with this you get more responsibility per job. With more people that are trained, you can distribute jobs more evenly, though because of the gap people aren’t entering the industry as much as we would’ve hoped. There’s also a lot of immense pressure on the industry because it’s linked to a business going down completely because livelihoods are attached to attacks. With this pressure and increased stress comes burnout because of constant mounting pressure. An issue is blame culture, though I think that we should move away from that and instead learn from every mistake

Ellen and Jake both have amazing insights into the topic of stress in cyber and it was really thought provoking to have conversations with them both. Interestingly, when I asked them about how we can help combat stress, they both highlighted the importance of human conversation to discuss stress in order to raise awareness to stress and to show our colleagues that they’re not alone in how they feel:

Ellen – The overarching support we can offer colleagues is 1) self-awareness i.e. be more aware of our own stress levels and what triggers cause us to have stressful reactions and behaviours and 2) behavioural changes in colleagues / changes in their body language indicating they are stressed. When we become more aware of ourselves then we can become more aware of others and help them. But awareness is not easy when we live in a state of survival (stress) most of the time and that stops us being supportive of ourselves and others.”

Jake – “I always think that cyber training isn’t just down to training but is also down to conversations and to discuss it with your colleagues. Discuss the funny things, as it all raises awareness in a very fun way. With phishing being the number one attack on businesses, why not discuss it? It just makes people that little bit more conscious about what they’re clicking on.

Talking about the human element makes people listen, they can relate to it. Put yourself into another person’s shoes and think about how can I not become another victim? That’s really powerful. Once discussions happen, people can be relieved and that stress can be taken away. I love telling people about what a fun industry the cyber security industry is. I think we can prove how fun it can be, and I think one of the best parts is the fast-moving element of it. It changes every day and it comes with its challenges that can be difficult, but that challenge is a fun challenge instead of us seeing it as something that can burn us out completely. To make it easy and open to talk about, emails from someone respected in the company just saying “it’s okay to not be okay” is really powerful. It’s good to reiterate it with a business mind. It’s okay to feel stress, or imposter syndrome. Stress has an amazing reaction that can spiral out of control and the end result can be burnout. There’s that assumption that people at the top have got it all covered, that they’re not stressed, but it’s simply not true. So, it’s good to have these conversations, and to show that everyone can have imposter syndrome to a certain extent. And working from home has made it even more difficult.”

As summarised by both Ellen & Jake, it’s important to recognise that stress affects us all, and by initiating and taking part in more of these conversations, together as a community we can break down barriers and combat stress as a collective to really drive home the message “it’s okay to not be okay”.

As part of the Human Factors programme at the Cyber Quarter in Hereford, we show people the formula to teach people how to make significant changes in their brain and body to help combat stress. To learn more, please complete an enquiry or send a direct email to our Human Factors Specialist, Ellen Kay: e.kay@wlv.ac.uk

Stress Awareness Month – The impact of stress & tips for dealing with it

Cybersecurity stress has been described as an industrywide epidemic amongst many cyber and security professionals. Talking about stress can be a difficult conversation for many, however, it is important to address workplace stress before its consequences affect both people and the business.

Stress can be one of the biggest underrated insider threats to a business. According to CIISec’s 2020/2021 State of Profession report, 557 security professionals have said that stress has become a major issue due the COVID-19 pandemic, with 80% also saying they have seen first-hand the effects of stress on their staff. These figures are a significant concern as it’s been shown that people are more vulnerable to the attempts of cyber criminals whilst feeling stressed. A Cyberchology (2020) report found that when stress levels are heightened, staff members are more likely to panic and potentially click on a malicious link or fail to report any security breaches to their IT team.

Workplace stress is becoming such an issue that, according to VMware’s 2021 Global Incident Response Threat Report, 65% of cyber professionals have said that they have considered leaving their job because of stress and CIISec’s 2020/2021 report states that 51% of cybersecurity professionals are kept up at night due to the stress of their job.

The facts and figures are clear that stress is a serious topic in the cyber community that needs to be more thoroughly addressed. Therefore, we asked our Human Factors Specialist, Ellen Kay, for her top tips for dealing with workplace stress and how we can spot signs of stress in others:

“I want to talk to you about one of the most common things in the workplace that break down teams and organisations around the world.

I’ve worked with MANY different companies, corporations, upper management and human resources, and they’re always talking about the impact of stress in their businesses. Stress is when your brain and body are knocked out of homeostasis. The stress response is what your body innately does to return itself back to order.

All organisms in nature, every creature, can tolerate short-term stress. But when the stressors add up and people keep reacting to threats and conditions in their external environment over and over again, they’ll keep their brain and body out of balance. And as a result, a system is going to break down. That means, individuals are going to break down. Teams are going to break down. Because no organism can live in emergency mode for an extended period of time.

Living in emergency means living in stress. And living in stress is living in survival. And what are the effects of that?

It turns out that the main cause of absenteeism in companies and organisations, has to do with stress and anxiety related problems that add to health problems. Over 75%of people who walk into a healthcare facility in the western world, walks in because of emotional and psychological stress. This emotional and psychological stress ultimately leads to other conditions and health problems, which cause people to be more sick. As a result, people become less creative, less innovative. They’re less productive and produce fewer outcomes. They communicate less and they’re less engaged in the workplace.

This has a direct effect on profits and growth in a business. They also tend to be more sick, and tend to be more competitive in a way that does not add real value to the business, they are more resistant to change, they’re more hostile, more resentful, more anxious and more depressed. They add to the toxic environment that they’re reacting to, which then causes the environment to become more stressed, which causes people to become more reactionary. And the cycle continues. It’s a huge problem all over the world.

It turns out that there’s a way to teach people how to make significant changes in their brain and body, and it’s actually a formula. The Human Factors offering at Cyber Quarter teaches this formula, and I want to share some of that information with you. Are you looking after your organisation, are you looking after your people, are you looking after you?”

To learn more about the impacts of stress and your business, sign up for our three upcoming Human Factors Briefings. Follow the links below to register your interest:

25th April – https://lnkd.in/dxvZ5ZCR
26th April – https://lnkd.in/dmJUm5Nn
27th April – https://lnkd.in/dvcaicPd

Professor Prashant Pillai Appointed Group Chair of the IEEE UK and Ireland Blockchain Group

The Cyber Quarter are delighted to announce that in February, our Centre Director, Professor Prashant Pillai was appointed as the Group Chair of the IEEE UK and Ireland Blockchain Group.

Source: IEEE UK & Ireland Blockchain Group website

The IEEE UK and Ireland Blockchain Group was founded in November 2018 with the vision of an active and dynamic forum focused on member value. The aim of the IEEE UK and Ireland Blockchain Group is to serve as a forum for professional networking, learning, and growth for our IEEE UK and Ireland members in the rapidly emerging Blockchain field and to organise events covering the start-of-the-art Blockchain technology and applications.

Coming from their website, “Blockchain, as a disruptive technology, is a multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary specialism.  It is by far the most forward thinking, impactful, and disruptive emerging technology family that the Future Directions Committee and the IEEE has sought to embrace.“

Prashant provided us with a short interview about how he feels about his new appointment and the future of the group:

Why did you get involved in the IEEE blockchain group?

I got involved in the group for 2 reasons really. Firstly, within Cyber Quarter – The Midlands Centres for Cyber security and the University of Wolverhampton, we carry out a lot of R&D around Blockchain. We have had a few externally funded projects in this area, a granted patent and a university spin-out company Cydon Ltd. Distributed Ledger technologies including Blockchains have enormous applications across various sectors and it is a key research area for us. The second reason for getting involved was to really engage with the wider community. IEEE groups like these provide an excellent forum for bringing all professionals in an area together. This not only helps with looking into current technical challenges and future R&D opportunities, but also look at how we can train the next generation of Blockchain leaders and entrepreneurs for the country.

What are you most looking forward to in this role?

I am looking forward to working with the other committee members of the Blockchain group and help develop a series of activities for the coming year. We have setup a monthly webinar series on Blockchain and are looking at other events like a Blockchain Summer School, Blockchain accelerators and an international conference around this area.

What do you see for the future of the IEEE group? How can other people get involved?

With over 100 members in the group already, it provides an excellent platform to explore the breadth and depth of Blockchain related activities in UK and Ireland. However, as DLTs and Blockchains are still a relatively new area, we know there is a lot more that can be done regionally and nationally. We want more organisation to join the group and help shape the activities of the group. The membership is open to everyone in UK and Ireland. Anyone who is interested can directly contact us via our website or LinkedIn Group page.

The newly formed UK & Ireland Blockchain Group is currently seeking members with relevant competence and interest in all domains and specialisms. With more than 421,000 IEEE members in more than 160 countries, now is the perfect time to find out more information about IEEE and this Blockchain group. Follow the links below to stay up to date with upcoming events and activities of the group.

Website IEEE UK and Ireland Section:  https://www.ieee-ukandireland.org/

Website IEEE UK and Ireland Blockchain Group: https://www.ieee-ukandireland.org/future-directions/blockchain/

LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ieee/

Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands – Cyber Working Group

On the 3rd  March, the Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands hosted the first official meeting for the Cyber Working Group – chaired by the Director of the Cyber Quarter, Professor Prashant Pillai, and co-chaired by the Project Manager of the Cyber Quarter, Hugo Russell.

The hour and a half meeting saw over 40 attendees interested in building the Cyber Ecosystem share ideas and collaborate on the future of the working group and its goals, including talks from DCMS (Daljinder Mattu) & Midlands Cyber and agenda items such as a ‘review of the National Cyber Strategy Pillar 1 objectives’ and ‘resource mapping’ to review the regions strengths and capabilities.

The Cyber Working Group is focused on collaborating and finding new approaches to accelerate the adoption and commercialization of cyber security procedures, policies, platforms, and solutions. The organisation is sharing insights and best practises on relevant and developing cyber technologies that are utilised to give value to consumers through this collaborative development and promotion. The group’s strength stems in part from its knowledge of a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, defence, finance, and rail, as well as its wide customer and supply chains.

The group will also collaborate to shape the strategies, regulations, and operational elements required to maximise the region’s strong technology and business services networks, with the goal of developing the West Midlands Cyber Ecosystem.

Cyber security is vital to the West Midlands’ operational well-being, with the region having a strong history of technological innovation and adoption. Here, the Cyber Working Group come together for the chance to make the West Midlands more resilient, while strengthening its cyber innovation capability by bringing together cyber related organisations and influencers, including; SMEs, academics, the public sector, and support organisations.

The group is open to anyone that is interested in cyber and the cyber community, so for your chance to be a part of the West Midlands Cyber Ecosystem, save the dates in your diary of the upcoming Cyber Working Group meetings and follow the Innovation Alliance for registration details:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cyber-working-group-cwg-tickets-264286326517?aff=iawm

Upcoming dates:

  • 12th May, 10-11:30am
  • 7th July, 10-11:30am
  • 8th September, 10-11:30am
  • 10th November, 10-11:30am             

Source: Innovation Alliance

“Addressing the Mythical Cybersecurity Skills Gap and Improving Diversity” by Mollie Chard

For those who don’t know me, firstly hello! I’m one of the Board Members at Women In Cybersecurity UK (WiCyS UK). WiCyS UK seeks to encourage, attract and promote women in the cybersecurity industry.

Back in December 2021 I presented my talk, titled: “Addressing the Mythical Cybersecurity Skills Gap and Improving Diversity” at the Cyber Fringe Festival. During the talk I discussed the cybersecurity skills gap and offered advice to organisations looking to improve their inclusion and diversity.

First things first, what is this “skills gap” all about? Well, according to multiple studies, there is a continuing shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals worldwide. One study by ISC2 estimates that there are around 3.12 million cybersecurity jobs that need to be filled. This number appears to be steadily decreasing.

Yes, there are clearly a lot of roles that need to be filled – I’m not disputing this fact. However, I believe that the focus of the “cybersecurity skills gap” is wrong; the world does not lack skilled people. Speaking from my experience interacting with people every day, there are an abundance of talented, skilled people out there who cannot join the industry due to outdated and inflexible hiring practices and entry routes.

So, what are the top reasons for this supposed “gap” in skills?

Hiring practices need re-thinking and updating

Entry routes into the industry are inflexible

Inclusion and diversity are often not a priority

The industry faces an image problem

So, how can we tackle all of this?

  1. Tackle the industry’s image problems – contrary to popular belief, cybersecurity is not just all hacking and coding (although there are many roles out there that fall into these categories). Raise awareness about the breadth of opportunity available – start in schools/education and reinforce the message throughout your organisation and networks.
  2. Re-think your hiring practices and broaden your entry routes – e.g., consider taking on juniors, apprentices, grads, allow employees to cross-skill or perhaps help people return to work after a career break. Be realistic about what you are looking for in a cybersecurity professional and be clear about what skills are needed for them to be able to do a particular role.
  3. Replace and update traditional models for what cybersecurity practitioners look like, and what their CV/resume looks like – soft skills such as empathy and communication skills are absolutely essential for cybersecurity professionals (if you can’t communicate complex info to a variety of audiences, it will fall on deaf ears and your cybersecurity strategy will fail). You can also re-write your job descriptions to encourage a broader range of applicants and widen the talent pipeline – my tips: remove essential criteria as it can cause some to self-select out of applying, consider your use of inclusive language and avoid stipulating unrealistic entry criteria such as CISSP/CISM/particular degrees (as not all skilled cybersecurity professionals have or require these). I’ve seen many junior cybersecurity job descriptions asking for 3-5 years’ experience, which is quite frankly absurd. These people are junior, which means they likely have NO EXPERIENCE – don’t set ridiculous and unrealistic expectations on people, barring their entry to the industry. Consider growing your own talent – remember it’s a long-term return on investment.
  4. Prioritise diversity and inclusion – many organisations adopt a “tick box” approach – e.g., each year hiring a % of people from minority groups. This is NOT true diversity. Instead, embed inclusion in your culture (which takes time) by encouraging an open, psychologically safe communicative environment (e.g., consider making inclusion a standing agenda item in team meetings and at corporate events to encourage open discussion, and encourage your staff to “bring their whole selves to work”. Don’t just talk the talk, ensure you walk the walk as well).

If the above points get addressed, then I expect we would see that this “skills gap” magically disappears. We can all work together to address it.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-chard/

https://www.wicys.org/

Three Counties Defence and Security Expo 3CDSE

Thursday 4th November 2021

The UK’s most diverse and forward-thinking defence and security expo.

3CDSE is an active touchpoint for leading-edge technology and strategic thinking, bringing together the UK’s leading innovators to create a forum for mutually beneficial commercial discussions between industry, armed forces, government, law enforcement and emergency services.

3CDSE is a unique showcase of innovative defence and security SME’s. Whilst the focus is on creating a showcase for SMEs directly to MOD Capability and Procurement teams, we are delighted to welcome larger organisations who may act as an interface between SMEs and the purchaser. The event was initiated by the Three Counties Defence & Security Group (3CDSG), a member trade association with its roots in the Three Counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

3CDSG hosts 3CDSE on its ‘home turf’, aiming to foster networking and the sharing of new ideas with those involved in the industry both nationally and internationally.

The show brings together senior military leading forces development and procurement, senior police engaged in the fight against cyber-crime, the intelligence and security agencies, and the industry innovators who supply them, to identify future strategies and needs.

Cited from 3CDSE website:

Welcome – 3CDSE 2021 – The UK’s most diverse and forward-thinking security expo

New cyber centre secures two coveted construction awards

The new Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security building based in Herefordshire has secured two coveted top prizes at the Constructing Excellence West Midlands Awards 2021.  

CE Midlands is the organisation charged with driving the change agenda within the East and West Midlands Construction industry through collaborative working. 

The centre is a joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council and part-funded by the Government’s Local Growth Fund, via the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 

The project, a partnership that included Speller Metcalfe, Hybrid Structures, Associated Architects, Cundall, Ramboll, Gleeds and Couch Perry Wilkes as well as the University’s Estates and Facilities Team, scooped the Building Project of the Year Award as well as being announced joint winners for the Integration & Collaborative Working Award at the ceremony held in Edgbaston recently. 

Adrian Speller, Technical Director of constructor Speller Metcalfe who was appointed contractor on the project, said: “Having personally grown up in Herefordshire, it’s been fantastic to work with the project partners to construct a building that has generated significant social return on investment through its delivery. 

“Project partners experienced a number of challenges getting the project to site in the first place and it took a lot of value engineering to do that. But every time we hit a challenge, the team just pulled together remarkably. 

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have been recognised for our efforts. The building is now an extraordinary landmark at Skylon Park and undoubtedly will be integral and instrumental in shaping the landscape of cyber security at a local, national and international level.”  

Warren Jukes, Managing Director of Associated Architects, said: “The Cyber Quarter project is the result of a huge effort and support from multiple partners. This award is a testament to all those involved, and we look forward to watching as the building provides significant resources for the University’s research and development in Cyber Security.”

Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security offers a package of tailored security testing, training, Research & Development and sector expertise to businesses and investors. 

Supported by the university’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI), the centre will offer product testing and certification, CPD and short courses and cyber conferences such as the recent Cyber Fringe Festival attracting experts from across the globe.  

The 2,000 square metre building will provide significant resources for research and development across three cyber laboratories, advanced training facilities as part of the University’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute and additional business space for up to 16 cyber companies. 

The centre, which secured £2.82m of funding via the Marches LEP’s Growth Deal with Government in 2017, is part of the new Cyber Quarter at Skylon Park, already home to numerous defence and security sector businesses. 

The new centre incorporates a full height glass atrium to provide a dual break-out space and function hall, alongside the main three storey building that houses business suites, innovation rooms, IT workshops and a ‘Cyber Range’ – a cutting edge facility that will defend against the global rise of hacking. 

Anyone interested in courses offered or businesses looking for incubation space can find out more about the Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security on the website. 

Anyone looking to study at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days. 

ENDS 

DCMS New programme to spark wave of growth in UK’s thriving cyber sector

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Innovative cyber startups, small businesses and scaleups will benefit from a new scheme to help them launch and grow their businesses while spreading wealth and opportunity across the UK.

Cyber Runway will see entrepreneurs and businesses across the four nations get access to business masterclasses, mentoring, product development support, networking events and backing to trade internationally and secure investment so they can turn their ideas into commercial successes.

The new programme – funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and delivered by Plexal in partnership with CyLon, Deloitte and The Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) – aims to support at least 160 organisations and companies over the course of six months.

The cyber security sector is one of the UK’s tech success stories with revenue growing 7 per cent in the last financial year and the number of companies increasing by 21 per cent. The sector is now worth £8.9 billion.

Companies participating in DCMS’s cyber growth initiatives in the past have, on average, more than tripled their revenues year on year.

Minister for Digital Infrastructure Matt Warman said:

The UK’s cyber sector is booming and we’re working tirelessly to ensure the benefits are felt by businesses and individuals right across the country.

Our new Cyber Runway programme will help tackle barriers to growth, increase investment and give firms vital support to take their businesses to the next level.

Cyber Runway will promote growth across the UK with a particular focus on Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the North East, North West and South West of England to support the government’s levelling up agenda. Much of the activity will build on the success of emerging cyber hubs such as Cheltenham, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The programme will also support founders and innovators from a diverse range of backgrounds – targeting applicants from underrepresented groups in the UK’s cyber sector such as women and people from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Saj Huq, director of innovation at Plexal, said:

COVID-19 has catalysed the need for effective cyber security across industries, and a record level of capital is being invested into the sector. But there is still a need for support for businesses at the earliest stages of their development and innovators and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities still face barriers when entering the ecosystem.

These are challenges we look forward to addressing with Cyber Runway by supporting the best innovators, regardless of their background or geography, to thrive and grow.

Nick Morris, CEO at CyLon, said:

The UK’s cyber security ecosystem is at a critical and exciting point in its development, with both new challenges and new opportunities having arisen out of the pandemic. Through its Launch, Grow and Scale streams, we believe Cyber Runway will be able to help a diverse range of entrepreneurs, startups and scaleups capitalise on this.

Cyber Runway will support UK innovators to develop the crucial security technologies that will safeguard the future of our digital economy. We are very pleased to be a part of this initiative alongside DCMS and our fantastic partners Plexal, CSIT and Deloitte.

Louise Cushnahan, head of innovation at CSIT, said:

CSIT has a strong reputation for providing support to cyber startups through their various growth stages.

We are delighted to bring our expertise to Cyber Runway to collaborate with cyber companies and entrepreneurs bringing innovative cyber solutions to market.

Cyber Runway is part of the government’s wider work to develop the UK’s strength in cyber as we build back better after the pandemic and improve prosperity and security.

Expressions of interest from applicants, mentors and investors can now be made.

Notes to editors:

DCMS press office is on 020 7211 2210.

Cyber Runway follows a number of other DCMS-funded cyber programmes which have now completed. These include HutZero, Cyber 101 and Tech Nation’s cyber accelerator for scaleups.

Cyber Runway is looking for expressions of interest from potential applicants, mentors and investors.

New programme to spark wave of growth in UK’s thriving cyber sector – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)