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
G4S will supply and support the main Sizewell C construction sites, as well as securing the project’s off-site infrastructure locations, including its bus operations centre where the project’s hydrogen-powered bus fleet will be maintained, two park and ride locations, and an accommodation campus.
At the project’s peak, G4S will employ up to 350 people, and the vast majority will be recruited from the local community. It is estimated that employees will complete around 300 apprenticeships over the life of the contract, ranging from level 2 to degree level 7 qualifications. G4S already has 220 employees at Sizewell C project locations and 14 are undertaking apprenticeships.
G4S also secures the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project, which is under construction in Somerset.
James Self, Account Director for G4S at Sizewell C said: “We are really proud to be a trusted partner for this vital project and we are committed to playing our part in having a significant positive impact on the local community. We are investing in developing our people to ensure they get the most out of their careers at Sizewell C. We have employed people from a wide range of backgrounds who haven’t worked in security before, but have transferable skills and we provide the training they need.
“The security solutions deployed will encompass cutting-edge systems and security technology - many of which have been tried and tested successfully at Hinkley Point C - and around 300 Enhanced Security Officers (ESOs).
“Whenever possible and applicable, we will use what we have learnt at Hinkley Point C to bring the greatest benefit to this project, whether that’s the use of the best technology and systems, or the highest quality training and development for our people.”
Physical security team roles also include supervisors, team leaders and duty security managers. The security control room forms the hub for site incident and emergency management, enabling all site communications and the issuing of security tasks.
This will be supported by nuclear site regulation compliant technical infrastructure to provide high-security data storage, sourced through a local supply chain and a dedicated team of experts and engineers to maintain it, who live and work in the local area.
One of the biggest clean energy projects in Britain, Sizewell C will provide low-carbon electricity to six million homes for at least 60 years and save nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually.
The project will support thousands of jobs across the UK, creating 1,500 apprenticeships, and will deliver 70% of its construction value to British suppliers. It is already delivering £2.5bn in contracts to nearly 300 UK suppliers and is committed to spending £4.4bn in the East of England alone across the construction period.
Damian Leydon, Site Delivery Director, said: “G4S bring the very highest level of safety and security to all our sites in Suffolk, making an important contribution in helping us deliver this incredible project for the UK.
“This project is creating thousands of job opportunities here in Suffolk and across the UK – and this new contract will create hundreds more new opportunities over the next decade of construction.”
We are really proud to be a trusted partner for this vital project and we are committed to playing our part in having a significant positive impact on the local community.
Insider threats
A preventative measure being considered by the UK government is for academics involved in critical scientific research at British universities to undergo vetting by security services.With internal threats expected to increase next year according to 94% of UK Chief Security Officers, vetting of university staff and regular re-vetting are actions G4S supports.
“Leaking of sensitive information, Unauthorised access to company data or networks, and intellectual property theft are all expected by almost a third of respondents to our survey,” Price said. “Vetting and regular re-vetting are a really good physical security measure to detect those trying to infiltrate an organisation, or to see if anyone has been turned.”
What physical security measures can be taken
Universities must implement a robust security operation preventing both physical and cyber threats.Implementing two-factor authentication on research devices, as well as passcode or biometric access controls are just two examples. AI surveillance systems may also be another; allowing security officers to monitor the movements of individuals in an ethical manner.
Institutions should also monitor who is accessing certain documents on their devices. If there is no need for an individual to be reading a piece of research this could be a sign they are attempting to access confidential information and may possibly be an insider.
Price said: “While we all want universities to share academia, knowledge and expertise, they must do so within a secure environment that protects IP from being stolen and also protects our national security. Implementing and maintaining a robust security operation is the best way to do this.”