Why British universities must increase security to prevent threats from hostile states
MI5 has warned vice-chancellors that British universities are being targeted by hostile states to steal sensitive research.
02 May 2024
British universities are cited as some of the best in the world; working on cutting-edge and revolutionary research.
The Director General of MI5 and senior politicians warned last week these institutions are being targeted for their intellectual property (IP) by hostile states and spies - and as a result this is a threat to national security.
In the face of this, universities must work at speed to increase their physical security measures and keep their academia and research safe, whilst balancing the need for open exchange of ideas that is vital to academic progress.
Noah Price, G4S Academy International Director, said: “Threats against universities are on the increase and are expected to rise further. Hostile states target universities because unlike government agencies or security services, these institutions prioritise the open sharing and collaboration of research, ideas and education, which can make them more vulnerable to cyber-attacks and espionage.
“Universities working on cutting-edge research need to implement targeted multi-layered security as a matter of urgency to protect sensitive research.”
Intellectual property theft committed by an external threat actor is expected to increase by 30% in the UK in the next year, according to G4S’s first ever World Security Report.
The Director General of MI5 and senior politicians warned last week these institutions are being targeted for their intellectual property (IP) by hostile states and spies - and as a result this is a threat to national security.
In the face of this, universities must work at speed to increase their physical security measures and keep their academia and research safe, whilst balancing the need for open exchange of ideas that is vital to academic progress.
Noah Price, G4S Academy International Director, said: “Threats against universities are on the increase and are expected to rise further. Hostile states target universities because unlike government agencies or security services, these institutions prioritise the open sharing and collaboration of research, ideas and education, which can make them more vulnerable to cyber-attacks and espionage.
“Universities working on cutting-edge research need to implement targeted multi-layered security as a matter of urgency to protect sensitive research.”
Intellectual property theft committed by an external threat actor is expected to increase by 30% in the UK in the next year, according to G4S’s first ever World Security Report.
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