Jisc has launched its security operations centre (SOC). It’s for universities (pictured, University of London), colleges, and research centres to guard against what Jisc (a body offering IT services to UK higher education institutions) multiplying cyber security threats in the education and research sectors.
In 2024, the educational institutions across the UK that make up Jisc’s membership dealt with hundreds of cyber incidents, including 11 major incidents that severely impacted business as usual operations, according to the non-profit company’s annual cyber posture survey. With each cyber-attack requiring attention and resource, the overall cost to the sectors is estimated to be around £2m.
Jisc, as the UK’s National Research and Education Network (NREN), provides the Janet Network, a digital foundation for research and education as used by 20 million in the UK. Use of Janet already includes a layer of cyber security protection, intelligence and support for users, Jisc says; its SOC now adds security.
The SOC relieves pressure on internal teams by providing 24/7 online threat detection, and incident response. Jisc adds that its visibility of the Janet Network means that cyber threats can be detected and contained faster. Jisc is sharing intelligence and advice with its customers, enabling universities, colleges, and research centres to collectively defend, it adds.
David Batho, director of security at Jisc, said: “The UK education and research sectors are subject to increasing cyber attacks on a daily basis, disrupting learning, research, and critical operations. This specialised security operations centre is more than just a service; it’s a commitment to a safer digital future. Jisc’s unique position as the provider of the UK’s national research and education network means the SOC has been built specifically to provide tailored protection for education and research institutions. Through advanced threat detection and response capabilities, we’re empowering the education community to innovate with confidence.”
Background
See also Michael Webb, director of AI at Jisc, who led a panel discussing the use of artificial intelligence within cybersecurity at Jisc’s Security Conference 2024 in November: Clare Johnson, ITSUS head of capability and founder of Women in Cyber Wales, Mark Watts, associate director of cyber security at University of Southampton, and Rebecca Flook, innovation developer in AI, Jisc. And read the Jisc blog on the difference between security information and event management (SIEM) and a SOC.
