Our Cyber Security Competency Centre continues to grow in 2024

The Cyber Security Competency Centre was started in February 2023, part of the University’s Digital Transformation programme. Its first cohort of Cyber Security trained professionals received their formal accreditation from the British Computer Society in April 2023. 

After another successful training course in Oxford (at Brasenose College) in March, our third cohort of collegiate University staff received their Certificate in Information Security Management Principles (CISMP). 

Staff came from a mix of colleges and departments including Corpus Christi and Oriel colleges; the Bodleian Libraries; Engineering Science; and the Saïd Business School. Staff attending the training found the instructor to be knowledgeable and engaging, with the style and pace of the training suiting them and their differing levels of knowledge and learning styles well. 

Our third cohort of CISMP trained staff

The CISMP training provides a sound foundation for information security frameworks and concepts, risk management, security culture, and incident management and response. The Competency Centre ensures that CISMP training is open to all staff, and you do not need a background in information or cyber security to enrol on the course.  

This easy-to-consume course was great in providing a solid foundation in this complex area.

Darren, IT Services

One of the aims of the competency centre is to enable some staff (once they have their CISMP) in departments, divisions, faculties, and colleges to become part of a distributed Cyber Taskforce. This Taskforce will enhance the University’s cyber-posture, working together and with OxCERT, the University's Emergency Response Team, as champions for cyber security, and in response to any major cyber incidents. This all happens under the leadership of the wider InfoSec Team (SSO). 

Our third cohort in their training session at Brasenose college

Being a Linux sysadmin for our department, I felt the CISMP training would elevate my security knowledge. It definitely did! I learned advanced threat detection methods. Now, I actively use them to identify potential risks in our systems, keeping our departmental production environment much safer.

Zaheer, Computer Science

We want to empower staff and their departments/colleges/faculties/divisions to take ownership of their own cyber security. From Research to Teaching to Finance to Human Resources to Student Administration, each area will have their own unique risks they face in cyber security on a day-to-day basis. 

Here are a few things you can do to keep Oxford Secure: 

• Make sure you are up to date with your Information Security training 
• Familiarise yourself with the University’s Information Security Resources.  
• Don’t be afraid to report a cyber security incident. We foster a no-blame culture here at Oxford. Reporting early will enable us to keep you and your colleagues safe much more effectively and you won’t be in trouble with InfoSec! 

Remember, cyber security affects us all.   

If you would like sign-up for the next course, please in fill in this form or contact the Competency Centre by email.