HP and Birmingham University professor team up to boost cyber security

HP has announced the inauguration of its Chair in Cyber Security at the University of Birmingham. Professor Mark Ryan, an internationally recognised expert in cyber security.

Mark currently leads the Security and Privacy group in the School of Computer Science, which has grown into one of the principal cyber security groups in the UK.

The group is also one of the EPSRC/GCHQ Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research, and includes HP Labs Bristol, which is primarily focused on security and is HP’s largest Labs presence outside of California.

The Bristol team will be engaged in long term research looking at a three to 15 years horizon with a particular interest in the blurring of the digital and physical world.

Simon Shiu, director of HP’s Security Lab explained to security publication SC Magazine the reasoning behind the move. “There’s a recognition that we can’t do everything on our own, that we need collaboration between academia, industry and government.  By collaborating we get a different point of view, a broader perspective from effectively a larger team.”

The HP Security Lab is focused on research and innovation for endpoint device ecosystems for its core, growth and future businesses. HP’s investment in the Chair and the partnership between its Security Lab and the University of Birmingham is part of the company’s global commitment to cyber security research and to supporting the UK Government’s efforts to address the world’s most pressing cyber security challenges.