Cyber security expert discusses work protecting the UK at Wrexham Glyndwr University event

A keynote meeting of North Wales Cyber Security Cluster which saw Director of Operations at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Paul Chichester, speak about his work at the organisation – linked to GCHQ and the UK’s leading authority on cyber security – has been hosted at Wrexham Glyndwr University.

Mr Chichester was the main speaker at the event, organised by the Cluster, which saw academics, students, businesses and tech professionals in attendance to hear about the latest developments in the sector. 

During his talk, Mr Chichester described how the NCSC had evolved to become the organisation it is today, beginning with their roots within GCHQ, which is set to celebrate its centenary early next month, through to the setting up of the NCSC as a separate body and its launch in 2016.

He discussed some of the latest work that is being done to protect the UK’s infrastructure, organisations and individuals, some of the latest advice and guidance from the centre and how the NCSC are looking to grow their relationships across the UK including Wales and work alongside industry, academia and the public to help ensure cyber security skills, understanding and expertise are built across the country.

This includes hosting the UK’s flagship cyber security event (CyberUK) which is being organised by the NCSC in Wales for the first time in 2020 – as well as increasing engagement with regional and national organisations like Cyber Wales and the Cyber Security Clusters through presentations at institutions such as Glyndwr.

Paul Chichester, Director of Operations at the National Cyber Security Centre, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to come to North Wales and support the vibrant and expanding community focused on cyber security.

“The North Wales Cyber Cluster is a great focal point for businesses and academia and the support of Glyndwr University is really important.”

Chairman of the North Wales Cyber Security Cluster, Jason Davies, added: “It is always great to be able to welcome organisations like the NCSC as well as respected figures in the industry, like Paul, to North Wales. It helps that Paul has always been a great supporter of Cyber Wales and the Cyber Clusters, helping to support the cyber security community across Wales from our inception in 2014.

“When we first talked about Paul coming to visit North Wales this year, we knew this needed to happen at Wrexham Glyndwr University. 

“Over recent years, the university has come to be recognised as the go-to place in the region for cyber security, helping to found the North Wales Cyber Security Cluster in 2015 along with offering students a unique, real-world employment focussed approach to their cyber security studies.

“We look forward to coming back to the university in the near future and continuing to work with Paul and the team at NCSC to ensure that their guidance and opportunities are spread throughout the region.”

Lecturer in Computing at Wrexham Glyndwr University, Dr Nigel Houlden, also spoke at the event.

He said: “One of the key ways in which universities and academics can help boost the skills our country needs for the 21^st century is by sharing our expertise. It’s something which Paul picked up on in his talk, and it’s always been at the heart of what the North Wales Cyber Security Cluster does too.

“That obviously means developing degree programmes – such as our BSc in Cyber Security taught here at Glyndwr, and an upcoming online-only degree which we will be teaching to students from around the globe.

“However, it also means being a point of contact for people with cybersecurity questions, concerns and issues to come and find out more – and we have some interesting plans for new ways to develop the work the university does across the region on cyber, which I was pleased to be able to discuss during the event and which we look forward to setting out further soon.”

To find out more about the North Wales Cyber Security Cluster please visit: https://northwalescyber.net/

To find out more about Wrexham Glyndwr University’s BSc in Cyber Security, see: https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Undergraduatecourses/CyberSecurity/ and to find out more about its Masters course, visit: https://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Postgraduatecourses/CyberSecurityMSc/