Cyber security is regularly in the news - from cyber attackers holding our personal data to ransom, to the protection of our children online, staying one step ahead of malicious actors has never been more important.

The establishment of the National Cyber Force (NCF) in Lancashire represents a once in a generation opportunity for the region to be at the forefront of a revolution in the way we stay safe online. The cyber ecosystem in the North West is expected to need 30,000 highly skilled core cyber jobs and will see a quadrupling of the sector’s economic output to £2.8bn. Lancashire is set to become at the heart of keeping the country safe as well as providing an unparalleled engine of economic prosperity.

That is why Lancaster University is significantly enhancing its capability and capacity to tackle cyber threats and working with our partners to help future-proof the UK’s cyber defences.

Lancaster University is one of a handful of universities in the UK, and the only one in the North West, to be recognised for both our excellence in research and education by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – the UK Government’s lead cyber security agency. We have invested £19m to grow our existing, comprehensive capability to around 55 cyber focused academics across a range of critical disciplines, to create new cutting-edge research and educational facilities and to develop vibrant connections with business, public policy and external partners through our cadre of Professors in Practice.

Our facilities are second to none in the UK and extend beyond our Lancaster campus. Two years ago, we partnered with Barclays Eagle Labs, Plexal and the University of Manchester to launch the Digital Security Hub (DiSH) in Manchester. The DiSH is a unique facility bringing together Government (GCHQ are on the floor above!), business and academia to create a thriving Greater Manchester cyber ecosystem. More recently the University has just finished the creation of four new cutting-edge computer science teaching labs and a unique resource in the form of the Decision Theatre. This will support teaching and research with large scale data sets at high resolutions and can be used to benefit businesses of all kinds.

In May 2024, the University opened The Lens, a new business co-working space to facilitate and galvanise government, business and academic interactions. The combination of our new and existing facilities is called the Data Cyber Quarter and creates a unique collaboration environment for participants to work on and solve the cyber problems of the future.

Our creative approach to cyber security is helping to rethink the cyber skills and talent pipeline. The University has built on its educational pedigree of an NCSC certified master’s degree in cyber security with the introduction of a new BSc in cyber security and a UK first cyber executive MBA programme. Our BSc programme helps to nurture the next generation of technical cyber talent, while our cyber executive MBA, delivered in partnership with consultancy Templar Executives, is developing the cyber leaders of the future.

We are developing unique school programmes, such as our School Cyber Entrepreneurship Course to encourage diversity into the future cyber workforce. We have also established a strategic partnership with IN4 Group, the NCSC partner for Cyber First activity in the North West. This partnership allows us to support the recognition of regional Cyber First schools and provide cyber educational programmes to schools in the region.

Beyond its capacity, history and pedigree, Lancaster is well known for its ability to conduct multi-disciplinary cyber research and education that delivers real impact to the communities the University serves; locally, regionally and nationally. We have programmes of business engagement to help SMEs develop cyber innovation strategies and commercialise cyber security research - all of which help to stimulate the regional cyber economy.

We are the only University active and with a physical presence across the whole of the North West Cyber Corridor - a phrase coined by the UK government at the time of the NCF announcement. We are bringing the regional community together, through events such as our Cyber Leadership Symposium and BSides Lancashire, forming long-lasting critical partnerships, and inspiring the region to seize the opportunities that cyber security represents for us all.

We have been on quite a journey over the last decade, and Lancaster University is fast becoming synonymous with outstanding cyber security education, research and engagement to help keep everyone safe and secure in these uncertain times.

For further details visit www.lancaster.ac.uk/security-and-protection-science/