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Using secure software systems engineering to improve business processes and information systems

Summary of the impact

Work conducted at UEL in the area of secure software systems engineering has had impacts on both the private and public sectors, in the UK and abroad. Through its application to financial pre-employment screening it has enabled an award-winning UK company to improve its security processes and become a world leader with respect to secure systems in their sector. This has, in turn, allowed the company to develop a competitive advantage in the market and attract more and larger multinational clients. In the public service sector our work has enabled a Greek governmental department — the National Gazette — to analyse the security implications of fully automating their processes and identify security mechanisms that enhance the security of their new systems. This has improved their service delivery, with significant impacts on Greek society.

Submitting Institution

University of East London

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Computation Theory and Mathematics, Computer Software, Information Systems

Security Economics

Summary of the impact

Professor Ross Anderson's (University of Cambridge) research in security economics has had considerable impact on public policy and industry practice. Through two reports for ENISA, his work has directly influenced European Commission policy on combatting cyber-crime and on protecting the internet infrastructure. Through his membership of a Blackett Review and appearances before parliamentary committees, he has influenced UK government policy on cyber- security. Personally, and through the positions to which members his research team have moved, his research has influenced a range of organisations, including the US government, the European Union, Google, and Microsoft.

Submitting Institution

University of Cambridge

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Computation Theory and Mathematics, Data Format

Cyber Security: Situational Awareness and Infrastructure Protection research changing policy and practice

Summary of the impact

Cyber security and situational awareness research has impacted organisations' strategy, policy and practice. Impact was delivered through nuWARP (Northumbria University Warning, Advice and Reporting Point) registered as part of the UK Government's Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure. International impact: direct contribution to EU Cyber Security Strategy; improved practices at the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; redeveloped business model at Star Spreads (online gambling company) leading to safer practices for customers. National impact: contributed to improved business models and policies in SMEs (Washington Metalworks, Shared Interest, SRM Ltd), which have improved data security and online practice.

Submitting Institution

Northumbria University Newcastle

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Information Systems

Ensuring Banknote Security

Summary of the impact

This case study highlights the research at Plymouth University into the development of a specialist security thread in banknotes which has been commissioned and adopted by De La Rue, the world's largest commercial currency printer and papermaker. The system has provided quality assurance for over five billion banknotes, including the Euro, and improved the performance of a worldwide business through the introduction of new technology. Potential future losses through counterfeit have been mitigated by the improved quality assurance systems.

Submitting Institution

Plymouth University

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, Information Systems
Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Human-centred security in government and commercial applications

Summary of the impact

Professor Sasse created, developed and delivered the user-centric perspective that now underpins security thinking in both corporate and public-sector domains. This perspective shaped the UK government's Identity Assurance Programme (IDAP), a federated identity solution that will provide access to all e-government services in the UK. HP has incorporated the compliance budget model into its Security Analytics product, which enables companies to calculate the impact of a given security mechanism on individual and corporate productivity. Sasse's work also underpins new and improved security products, including First Cyber Security's SOLID and Safe Shop Window tools, which protects over 70% of UK online shopping revenue; GrIDSure's one-time PIN system (now part of the SafeNet Authentication Service); and iProov's authentication service.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Economics: Applied Economics
Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services: Business and Management

Electronic Payments

Summary of the impact

Research examining the vulnerabilities in electronic payment systems conducted by Professor Ross Anderson and his research team at the University of Cambridge since 1995 has had profound impact on the current generation of payment systems. Research outcomes have (i) led existing businesses to redesign application programming interfaces (APIs) used by hardware security modules; (ii) created a new company, Cronto; (iii) convinced authorities to review certification systems so that products are more secure; and (iv) fuelled public awareness of, and discourse about, the security of electronic payment systems.

Submitting Institution

University of Cambridge

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Computation Theory and Mathematics, Computer Software, Data Format

Cryptographic Analysis and Improvement of Transport Layer Security (TLS)

Summary of the impact

By default, Internet traffic is vulnerable to eavesdropping and modification. TLS is a protocol that has become the de facto method for securing application-layer messages. TLS is implemented in all major web browsers and servers and is used daily by hundreds of millions of people for applications such as e-commerce, social networking and Internet banking. Royal Holloway researchers identified flaws in the way in which TLS encrypts data, resulting in practical attacks that compromised the security goals of TLS. The researchers also helped major vendors, such as Google, Microsoft and Oracle, to assess and develop countermeasures to the attacks.

Submitting Institution

Royal Holloway, University of London

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Computation Theory and Mathematics, Data Format

Mobile applications and technologies making economic impact

Summary of the impact

Mobile technologies and in particular mobile applications have become key drivers of the economy in many countries especially those that lack established communications infrastructures. Since 2003, the research team led by Professor Al-Begain has created both significant infrastructure and know-how that became the base for the creation of the £6.4million Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications and Services (CEMAS) that is providing research and development to SMEs in Wales to increase their competitiveness. In the first three years since its inception 28 projects have been completed and 66 companies have received services.

Submitting Institution

University of South Wales

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Data Format, Information Systems
Technology: Communications Technologies

Design of a block cipher used in TETRA secure radio

Summary of the impact

Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) is a very well known, international specification for secure mobile radio and `walkie-talkie' communication, that is extensively used and relied upon by emergency and public safety services such as police, ambulance and fire services, as well as governmental and private bodies. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) began standardising TETRA in the 1990s and it is now widely used throughout the world. Foundations of its success include resilience and reliability, but security is a major feature, being underpinned by expert cryptographic design. In particular the authentication and key generation mechanisms in TETRA rely on a block cipher (HURDLE) which was designed by a team of cryptographers at Royal Holloway.

The work carried out at Royal Holloway underpins the integrity and security of TETRA safety- critical networks throughout the world to the present day. A secure design for emergency service communications minimises both the amount of disruption criminals can cause to service operations, and the amount of operational information such criminals can glean from eavesdropping, contributing to the safety and security of society as a whole as well as the economic benefits to manufacturers of TETRA-based equipment.

Submitting Institution

Royal Holloway, University of London

Unit of Assessment

Mathematical Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Computation Theory and Mathematics, Data Format

Methodology for Evaluating Health Information Technology Systems

Summary of the impact

A team led by a Manchester Metropolitan University researcher developed the PROBE (Project Review, Objective Evaluation) methodology for evaluating healthcare information technology systems. This became a core part of the National Health Service (NHS) information strategy; in 1996, PROBE was accepted by the NHS Executive and HM Treasury as a central method for project review. PROBE has therefore brought significant benefits to clinical users, patients and NHS decision makers. Impacts described here relate to the use of PROBE to evaluate an electronic blood transfusion system. Specifically, through enabling the effective evaluation of the system, decisions by a health authority have been informed by research, clinical practices have improved, and levels of patient safety and confidentiality have risen.

Submitting Institution

Manchester Metropolitan University

Unit of Assessment

Computer Science and Informatics

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

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