Pioneering research into global cyber threats to be led by Southampton Research Chair

The growing cyber security threat posed by the increasing interconnectivity of smart devices is to be examined by a new Roke Manor Research (Roke)/ Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Research Chair based at the University of Southampton.

Professor Vladimiro Sassone, Director of the University’s Cyber Security Academy, will use the prestigious title to build upon effective collaboration with Roke as a key industrial partner around a research agenda that focuses on the evolving Internet of Things.

The Internet of Things is made of the growing network of devices that are connected through the internet, developing innovative applications which may expose society to new cyber threats. Professor Sassone, part of the department of Electronics and Computer Science, has set out to analyse this changing field in both cyber-physical systems and cyber-controlled infrastructures through the Research Chair.

“It is a great honour to be selected to advance this cutting-edge research with the support of Roke Manor Research,” he said. “It is my ambition to develop an enduring partnership between academia and industry. This award also represents a reward for the work I led towards the foundation of the Cyber Security Academy, a pioneering partnership between the University and key industry stakeholders, which we plan to develop as a technopole for cyber security in the south of England.”

Professor Bashir Al-Hashimi, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, said: “It is gratifying that Vladimiro has been recognised through this prestigious Research Chair and this reflects the world-leading research activities that exist within our department of Electronics and Computer Science. The research undertaken by Vladimiro is extremely important to create new knowledge that drives positive impact on both society and the economy.”