Intelligent CISO Issue 06 | Page 9

news Booz Allen selected by US Department of Homeland Security continuous diagnostic tools and integration services for over 60 federal civilian agencies. In 2015, Booz Allen was the first integrator to partner with DHS under the ambitious programme, across multiple contracts. In its first phase, Booz Allen designed, integrated and deployed a data-driven cybersecurity stack that provided 13 participating agencies with state-of-the-art visibility into their networks. ooz Allen, a leading North American provider of professional security services, has been awarded more than a billion dollars by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance cybercapabilities across six federal agencies. B To enhance the visibility of risks and maintain an active defence against cyberthreats, the DHS – in partnership with the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) – established the CDM Programme in 2012 to provide Booz Allen’s CDM solution (inclusive of Group D and the previously awarded Group B task order), secures nearly 80% of the .gov enterprise, including 4.1 million network addressable devices, more than 1.75 million users, more than 19,700 site and 89 individual federal organisations. FEDSIM and DHS have selected Booz Allen as the prime contractor to continue enhancing the cybersecurity capabilities of federal agencies with a US$1.03 billion, six-year task order. The scope of work for this Group D task order will enhance CDM capabilities for six agencies, including GSA, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Social Security Administration (SSA), Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the United States Postal Service (USPS). UK UNIVERSITIES RECOGNISED FOR EXCELLENCE IN CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH hree UK universities have been recognised as Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ESPRC) have identified the University of Kent, King’s College London and Cardiff University as having first-rate research with scale and impact. T The universities will now join 14 other institutions in a scheme forming part of the Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy, which is aiming to make the UK the safest place to be online and is helping to support the country’s thriving digital economy. The universities will now have the opportunity to bid for funding to develop cutting-edge research in cybersecurity, including at doctoral level, as well as attend annual conferences and workshops. The scheme aims to create a better understanding of the strength of the UK’s academic capability in cybersecurity and identify areas where there are research opportunities or technical gaps. www.intelligentciso.com | Issue 06 It makes collaboration between academia, business and government easier, and helps make sure cutting-edge research is turned into practical products and services. This includes developing tools to tackle mass marketing fraud online and better understand cybercriminals. Minister for Digital, Margot James, said: “These universities are doing fantastic research in cybersecurity and they are rightly being recognised for their pioneering work.” 9