The University of Bristol has very recently announced it will host the new Research Institute for Sociotechnical Cyber Security (RISCS). This is one of the oldest of the National Cyber Security Centre’s research institutes.

This is believed to be a major stepping stone for Bristol IT Support and Cyber Security. Due to the potential the RISCS have with the support of Bristol University, which is ranked one of the best in the UK for its IT advancements.

In this blog, we’ll talk about why this is big news for the University of Bristol. Additionally, what the goals and ambitions behind opening the new institute are as well.

What is the RISCS?

As previously mentioned, the RISCS is a National organisational institute on Cyber Security.

What you might not know is that it is the UK’s first Research Institute to focus on the overall security of organisations. This includes their constituent technology, people and processes.

RISCS is funded by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and was founded by Professor Angela Sasse. However, between 2018 and 2022 the institute was directed by Professor Madeline Carr.

This brings us here and now in March 2023, the research institute has been transferred to the University of Bristol. Newly directed by Professor Genevieve Liveley. This was published on the official Bristol University press release page on the 20th of March.

However, you may still be wondering what the RISCS mission is and what they have been doing, so let’s explain that next.

 

What is the mission of the RSCS?

Since its inception in 2012, RISCS has acted as a trailblazer in building a community of experts to tackle extremely challenging situations. This is working towards the ambition of making the UK one of the safest places in the world to live and do business online.

Additionally, it was stated in the University of Bristol’s press release that it helped to change the myth that people are the weakest link in cyber security.

While also showing that academics, policymakers and business leaders can work together to tackle Cyber Security issues collaboratively.

In recent years the University of Bristol’s flagship Cyber Security Group has built a strong reputation for its highly innovative approaches to Cyber Security challenges. The group has a long and successful history of shaping the sociotechnical field in Cyber Security.

After receiving the great news that Professor Genevieve Liveley was going to become a director of RISCS, she released this statement: “It’s been both a pleasure and a privilege to have been part of the RISCS family for the past three years as a Fellow. So I’m absolutely delighted to be taking on the role of Director. It’s also great to have the opportunity to advance Bristol’s reputation.”

 

Our conclusion

Overall, it is very exciting to see new changes in Bristol’s Cyber Security movement. Especially considering the RISCS has chosen to host it at the University of Bristol- which already had a great reputation for advanced IT Support in Bristol along with Technology advancement.

Additionally, an encouraging sign that we are seeing at Solutions 4 IT is the increase in Cyber Security movements around the UK currently.

For example, the new start-ups in the NCSC that we made a blog on last week! All in all, this is a good sign that we are taking the right steps forward in Nationally advancing Cyber Security on the internet.

We hope you’ve liked this short blog on the most recent IT News in Bristol. Please feel free to stay up-to-date on our weekly blog releases- ranging from exciting IT News articles to informative Knowledgebase material. Thank you for reading!