Global Cybersecurity Centre Soon to Open at the University of Oxford

The United Kingdom will host a global cybersecurity centre to be located within the walls of the University of Oxford – a concrete  step in creating a safer cyber space not just for the UK but for the rest of the world as well. This was revealed by Foreign Secretary William Hague in a recent announcement. The government-funded facility will be called The Global Centre for Cyber Security and Capacity Building. The centre will be located at the Oxford Martin School. Its director, Professor Ian Goldin said that for the current challenges to be addressed successfully, “integrated thinking” is the answer.

Main purpose

This facility aims to work out the origins of mysterious cyber-attacks that plague the world today. This new cyber security centre is designed to help the countries of the world deal effectively with all forms of online threats and develop protective and preventative measures as well. This facility will be a major contributor to the development of policies on cyber security that will not just benefit British subjects but the whole world as well. The centre will also coordinate global efforts on neutralizing cyber treats the world over.
The British Government is allotting one million pounds to support the center’s operations from 2013 to 2015. The centre is intended to be global resource in the fight for better cyber security measures.

“A beacon of expertise”

The cyber security centre that will soon arise at Oxford would provide the necessary skills set to nations who are seeking better protection from cyber attacks. The centre will have both the manpower and the technology to deal with many different types of online threats. One of its primary goals is creating a set of guidelines on dealing with the most pertinent issues today. The centre will also make sure that those who are in need will receive the solutions required given the problems that require their attention.

It is the mandate of the National Cyber Security Strategy of the United Kingdom to deal adequately with threats and provide online systems the resilience that they need. This facility is a step towards building this capacity within the UK. It also intends to foster international cooperation and share the technology since “we are only as strong as our weakest link.”

Urgent need

Many countries have been affected by cyber attacks which targeted both national governments and the private sector. In the United State alone, cyber attacks have increased significantly. And hackers are becoming more and more ambitious. A cyber security firm that is based in the United States has accused the Chinese military of cyber theft wherein 141 organizations the world over have been victimized. The firm reports that a huge amount of data was stolen.

The Vice-President of LogRhythm, a security firm said that new approaches are urgently needed in order to infiltrate the efforts of closely knit networks. The move by the UK government is a timely one since the threat of cyber security is not one to be ignored. Collaboration is critical, he added, and information sharing would lead to the resolution of the problems concerning cybercriminals at work in the world today. He calls the Oxford cyber security facility a hub for “good guys” to get together and fight back.