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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/S018263/1
Title: Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research - Cardiff University
Principal Investigator: Burnap, Professor P
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Computer Science
Organisation: Cardiff University
Scheme: Standard Research - NR1
Starts: 01 August 2018 Ends: 30 June 2023 Value (£): 64,898
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Fundamentals of Computing Information & Knowledge Mgmt
Networks & Distributed Systems Software Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Information Technologies
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Cardiff University is a leading UK academic institution for cyber security analytics and artificial intelligence - the interpretation and effective communication of applied data science and AI methods through interdisciplinary insights into risk, threat intelligence, attack detection and situational awareness drawn from computer science, data science, criminology and international relations.

Our track record is evidenced by world leading publications, a strong PhD student ecosystem, and a total grant income over £7.5m from EPSRC, ESRC and industry. The impact and innovation of our research has been evidenced through a strategic partnership with global manufacturing firm Airbus - including the launch of an Airbus Centre of Excellence for Cyber Security Analytics at Cardiff University in 2017. Through academic secondments, student internships, and funded PhDs, University-developed technology has been incorporated into Airbus' internal and external products and services (e.g. consultancy and Security Operations Centre (SOC)).

We have consolidated the various aspects of cyber security research at Cardiff through the focus of cyber security analytics into the centre comprising 9 permanent academic staff. We have a core aim to sustain this leading capability to support innovation, decision making and policy surrounding cyber security issues of national importance.

Our philosophy is that Cyber Security is a global, human-centred issue that cannot be solved by technology alone, and our research endeavours to be able to understand, explain and model behaviours and interactions in cyber space as well develop technological innovation to predict and classify risks and threats to systems and people.

Our funded research programme is underpinned by five core research themes: (1) Risk assessment and modelling - developing novel methods to formalise processes within critical infrastructures and developing new risk modelling notation that has transformed the way risk is captured. We aim to advance the integration of cyber analytics with real-time risk assessment and modelling; (2) Risk communication, governance and collective decision making - using threat intelligence and good practice - being able to make effective decisions based on information available is crucial in an ever evolving cyber threat landscape. (3) Data-driven human and software behavioural analytics and threat intelligence - Our expertise in data science, machine learning and statistical analysis is being applied to ground-breaking research in intrusion detection via the complex analysis of software behaviours (e.g. machine learning for intrusion detection via behavioural DNA profiling); (4) Motivations, dynamics and social factors of cyber crimes - supporting theoretical data mining and explanatory social process modelling. This includes cyber fraud and motivations, and the social factors influencing behaviours and communication following cyber attacks; and (5) Security and Privacy of Emerging Technologies (e.g. cloud, mobile devices and Internet of Things) - horizon scanning and forecasting the threats of the future using AI.

Cardiff University is an active partner in the EPSRC PETRAS national hub for Internet of Things (IoT), within which we study the emerging attack vectors and exploitation threats on IoT in an industrial control system context.

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Organisation Website: http://www.cf.ac.uk