The Northumbria Cyber Security Research Group (NCSRG) leads the University’s research across this area with researchers in Computer Science, AI, Cybersecurity, Psychology, Law, Criminology, Social Sciences etc. This multi-disciplinary group combines technical research with applied AI on Malware/botnet detection, biometric encryption, wireless sensor networks, web security protocols, and image recognition, with human-centred work on usable security, privacy, trust, law, crime, social sciences and behaviour change. The group’s work identifies both the virtual and physical risks associated with connected smart cities and complements other work ongoing at the University relating to the digital living space, which explores the intersection of people, place and technology in the digital and urban environment. In the knowledge partnership activities, Northumbria’s Cyber Clinic works with NEBRC (North East Business Resilience Centre), which is police-led, and this collaboration has helped to secure business networks from cyber-attacks. Northumbria’s cyber security students working for NEBRC as part-time ethical hackers have helped many SMEs. The Psychology and Communication Technology (PaCT) Lab at Northumbria University is one of few dedicated Cyberpsychology research and training facilities in the UK. Led by Dr Dawn Branley-Bell and located within the School of Psychology, PaCT is home to a team of academic researchers including faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants and PhD candidates.

Emphasising the importance of research in this area, Professor Pam Briggs, former ACE-CSR director and Northumbria Cyber Security Research Group lead, commented: “Cybersecurity attacks grow in number and complexity year on year and are quickly becoming smarter with new AI capability. “It is vital that we understand the role that both people and technology will play in helping to reduce our vulnerability to such attacks and I’m delighted that this ACE-CSR gives recognition to the work Northumbria researchers are doing in this space.”

Chris Ensor, Deputy Director Cyber Growth of the National Cyber Security Centre, said: “I’m delighted that 21 universities have been recognised as Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research, including four who have received the award for the first time. These recognitions are testament to the dedication of academics, support staff and senior management who have ensured that cyber security remains high on the university’s agenda. And they demonstrate that the UK has a growing number of world-class universities carrying out cutting-edge research into all areas of cyber security. We very much look forward to working with them over the coming years to tackle the most difficult cyber security challenges.”