The University of Sussex has begun to use a security operations centre (SOC) managed by IT and cloud services provider Exponential-e.
The SOC went live at the end of last year under a three-year contract valued at £1.5 million and with extension options for two more years.
It is operating as a hybrid model with Exponential-e working in collaboration with the university’s internal IT services team, and is expected to deliver an increased capacity for earlier detection and response to events, incidents and threats.
This is part of a cyber security programme for the university, which has over 18,500 students and nearly 3,500 staff.
Its cyber security manager, Suzanne Elmore: “In an ever-changing threat landscape, there is a continual need for improved insight and awareness of emerging cyber threats within the university. Working with Exponential-e to deliver the managed SOC, we will be able to access an informed source of intelligence to efficiently monitor threat analysis and respond to cyber threats, 24/7.”
Afshin Attari, director of public sector at Exponential-e, said the SOC service will monitor and manage threat analysis for quicker response rates to minimise any IT disruption, and help to reduce the university’s exposure to financial and reputational risk.
