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Conscia’s Peter Jones talks the future of cyber security with the University of Warwick

Peter Jones, Conscia UK's Cyber Security Specialist, has been delivering webinars and lectures with the University of Warwick to help inform academics and students on key topics such as quantum computing and the recent Marks & Spencer cyber attack.

At Conscia, we are fully committed to actively supporting the communities in which we and our clients operate. This idea forms a key part of the Conscia ethos, which has previously included our working with the NHS to implement a mental health crisis helpline, and sponsoring sports teams and clubs in our local area. So, when the University of Warwick came to us with a new opportunity, we were excited to lend them our cyber security expertise.

After entering into a five-year partnership with the university, our teams have been working closely together to fully understand the university’s plans and aspirations – ensuring that all parties are aligned on what success looks like. During this process, the university approached us around an opportunity to share our knowledge and experience with their academic and student communities through their Digital Academy series of webinars. Peter Jones, Conscia UK’s Cyber Security Specialist, was more than happy to oblige.

With quantum already a hot-button topic within the technology sector – and due to only become more so – Peter chose to kick off his first webinar by delving into the subject. Delivered to an audience of academics, his talk examined the context around quantum technology, including predicted timelines, the state of post-quantum cryptography, and the awareness (or lack thereof) in the wider industry. A short while later, Peter was back delivering another webinar within the same series – with his focus this time on the recent Marks & Spencer cyber attack. By taking the attack as an example, Peter broadened the conversation to the Mitre ATT&CK framework and walked his audience through how such attacks work, why they’re so effective, and what organisations can do to protect themselves in a similar situation.

Following the success of these webinars, the University of Warwick invited Peter to deliver his talk on the M&S attack in person, as the opening talk for the university’s Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research. This time the lecture was delivered to an audience of both academics and students, with a very positive response from both demographics. Peter has since been invited back to Warwick to deliver a new talk on networking security in November.

It was an honour to be invited by the University of Warwick to speak with their students about the future of cyber security,” said Peter. ” It’s inspiring to see how progressive the university is – actively preparing both its students and its own infrastructure to meet the challenges and opportunities that emerging technologies like AI and quantum bring.

These talks are emblematic of the Conscia principles of knowledge sharing, community support, and social outreach. Our experts regularly go above and beyond expectations, and we are always looking for new ways to engage with our clients, and to make a meaningful difference within their communities. We would encourage anyone with similar needs to get in touch with their Conscia account manager to discuss possible future collaboration.