Northumbria Cyber Security Research Group

Northumbria Cyber Security Research Group (NCSRG)

The Northumbria Cybersecurity Research Group (NCSRG) was set up in 2006 and since then the University has adopted cybersecurity research as a strategic focus, investing in both people and facilities. The University’s strategic commitment to growing the size and quality of its cybersecurity research informed the University’s submissions to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, where Northumbria University saw the biggest rise in research power ranking of any UK university. Cybersecurity research was recognised as a key area for growth in the REF2021 strategy for both Computer Science and Informatics (Unit of Assessment 11) and for Psychology (UoA4) where a particular focus was on technology, human factors and behaviour change. The vision of Northumbria Cyber Security Research Group (NCSRG) is to secure our digital tomorrow by understanding and detecting new forms of cyber threat through next generation intelligent intrusion detection, advancing biometric and forensics solutions for identification, identity and access management and exploring the individual and social factors that lead to cybersecurity vulnerabilities, seeking adopt behaviour change models to reduce these vulnerabilities. Our aim is to optimise our citizens behaviours as cyber-defenders and optimise our technology defences against intrusions.

Our strategic goals for the next five years include:

Improve our understanding of cyber-resilience

Improve our understanding of cyber-resilience in the domestic sphere and our portfolio of work in domestic IoT security and privacy. This includes cybersecurity threats with IoT, smart homes and autonomous systems and work on domestic cyber-resilience.

Explore the implications of AI for Cybersecurity

Explore the implications of AI for Cybersecurity and implement novel approaches to security by looking at both the technical and human factors. We’re working to incorporate novel machine learning and AI solutions to intrusion detection and prevention.

Develop novel approaches in digital forensics

We have studied the use of machine learning, deep learning and bio-inspired computing for various problems, including digital media forensics, biometric security, video tele-surveillance and fraud detection in financial transactions and others.

Deliver impact in cyber security policy and business practice

Two impact case studies on cybersecurity were worked on relating to Northumbria’s impact on government policy, on business resilience and on vulnerable users.

Develop our role in international cyber security networks

On the international stage, the team is active in organising international events and conferences and working with partners across Europe, the middle east, USA and Canada.

To build inter-disciplinary cyber security in the university

Northumbria will extend its disciplinary involvement creating a multi-disciplinary cyber security group, bringing in expertise in law and criminal justice to the existing CSRG.

Some example research projects done with undergraduate students are below …

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