Oxford: Centre for cybersecurity to open at university with government backing
A global centre for cybersecurity will be opened at the University of Oxford, foreign secretary William Hague has announced. The centre, based in Oxford Martin School, will receive £500,000 a year from the national cyber security programme. The Global Centre will work to help countries develop comprehensive plans to deal with online threats. The government will provide £1 million in total to fund the centre for the next two years.
It will act as "a beacon of expertise" said Hague. "The new centre will co-ordinate global work on cyber-threats and cyber-policies which will help protect the UK's security."
Globally, threats are mounting, and countries around the world are keen to increase their levels of cybersecurity. Hague added: "there is wide international agreement that we need to increase global efforts to raise cyber security."
Ian Goldin, director of the Oxford Martin School and Professor of Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford, said: "The Oxford Martin School’s purpose is to address critical challenges of the future. We are convinced that integrated thinking on cyber security is required to address these challenges. We are delighted to have the opportunity to host the Cyber Capacity Centre within our interdisciplinary community at the University of Oxford. Sadie Creese, professor of cyber security, will be heading the new Centre.”
Part of the Oxford centre's remit will be to ensure that countries have the necessary skills, workforce and technology to tackle online threats.