Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS) - Research at Kent
Source: https://research.kent.ac.uk/cyber
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:14
Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS) - Research at Kent
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Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS)
Featured story
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Institute of Cyber Security for Society
Welcome to the Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS)
We promote wide-ranging interdisciplinary research in cyber security and help enhance the cyber security skills and awareness of our students and the wider community. We achieve this through a diverse range of cyber security activities, including research, educational activities, professional training, industrial consultancies, expert talks and media communications. Our external partnerships with industries, governmental bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) enable us to develop wide-ranging collaborations with the cyber security community in the UK and worldwide.
Research
Education
Impact and engagement
Events
News
:
iCSS is calling 16-17-year-olds currently studying Year 12 or an equivalent programme at a local school or FE college for
a one-week-long NCSC CyberFirst Advanced Course
, to be held in
the last week of July 2026
. A flyer can be found
here
. The registration form is
here
. The application deadline is
30 April 2026
.
iCSS is launching its
ISC2 CC pilot training courses
(
hybrid during a weekend
) to all who are interested in getting their first cyber security industrial certification –
ISC2 CC (Certified in Cybersecurity)
– after attending
an instructor-led course in a single weekend
. The first course will take place in
the first weekend in May 2026
. More details can be found at
here
. To purchase a seat at one such course, please visit
this page on the University of Kent’s online store
.
The above pilot courses are part of the joint campaign between iCSS and KMCC for promoting ISC2’s
1MCC cyber security certification campaign
, for encouraging more people to consider the entry-level ISC2 CC certification (free training materials and free exams!).
iCSS,
The STEM Hub
and KMCC co-founded
KMCSN (Kent & Medway CyberSchools Network)
in November 2023 and always welcome local schools and teachers to join as members.
Built on the success of the former Kent Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Cyber Security (KirCCS) established in 2012, iCSS has been representing the University of Kent as an
Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR)
, jointly recognised by the
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, part of the GCHQ)
and the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, part of UKRI – UK Research and Innovation)
. The University of Kent’s ACE-CSR recognition was achieved originally from 2015-2017, then from 2018-2023, and more recently from 2024-2029. Currently there are only 21 UK universities with an ACE-CSR status. iCSS further extends the cyber security research of the former KirCCS, especially within its socio-technical security and privacy research theme, into wider areas such as cybercrime, cyber law, online safety, cyber influence and behaviour, digital financial technology, cyber governance and cyber conflict. An interactive map of all ACEs-CSR can be found
here
.
Alongside our activities in research and innovation, iCSS also coordinates university-wide educational activities around cyber security, including our pool of cyber-related modules across different schools and new cyber-related interdisciplinary degree programmes. Since 2023, iCSS represents the University as an
Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACEs-CSE)
with a Gold Award status, recognised by the NCSC. As of April 2026, there were only nine UK universities recognised as both an ACE-CSR and an ACE-CSE with a Gold Award status. An interactive map of all ACEs-CSE can be found
here
.
In 2023, iCSS also established the
KMCS3 (Kent & Medway Cyber Security Student Society)
to engage University of Kent students from all subjects. Furthermore, iCSS has been active in many impact generation and wider engagement activities. Two examples are its role in facilitating the establishment of the
KMCC (Kent & Medway Cyber Cluster)
to develop the local cyber security ecosystems in Kent and Medway, and its school outreach activities in cyber security and online safety organised around the
KMCSN (Kent & Medway CyberSchools Network)
. If you are interested in working with iCSS on such activities, please get in touch.
In 2023, due to iCSS’s active profile in all areas of cyber security especially its wider impact and engagement activities, the University of Kent was named the
‘Cyber University of the Year’ of the inaugural
Real Cyber Awards
2023
.
iCSS has its
dedicated physical space
in
Keynes College
(B2 and C2), which hosts the management team, core academic staff, administrative staff, research staff and PhD students, in order to promote exchanges and collaborations between its members across different participating schools.
From time to time, we have calls for applications for PhD studentships and job posts. To find out more, visit our
Join us page
.
If you are interested in studying a cyber security degree, learning more about our activities, working with us on cyber security projects or anything else related to cyber security, please
contact us
. In addition, iCSS is a one-stop hub in cyber security matters for everyone – if you have a question on cyber security, or need help and don’t know what to do, feel free to reach out and we will find out how we can help you.
Skip to navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS)
Featured story
×
Institute of Cyber Security for Society
Welcome to the Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS)
We promote wide-ranging interdisciplinary research in cyber security and help enhance the cyber security skills and awareness of our students and the wider community. We achieve this through a diverse range of cyber security activities, including research, educational activities, professional training, industrial consultancies, expert talks and media communications. Our external partnerships with industries, governmental bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) enable us to develop wide-ranging collaborations with the cyber security community in the UK and worldwide.
Research
Education
Impact and engagement
Events
News
:
iCSS is calling 16-17-year-olds currently studying Year 12 or an equivalent programme at a local school or FE college for
a one-week-long NCSC CyberFirst Advanced Course
, to be held in
the last week of July 2026
. A flyer can be found
here
. The registration form is
here
. The application deadline is
30 April 2026
.
iCSS is launching its
ISC2 CC pilot training courses
(
hybrid during a weekend
) to all who are interested in getting their first cyber security industrial certification –
ISC2 CC (Certified in Cybersecurity)
– after attending
an instructor-led course in a single weekend
. The first course will take place in
the first weekend in May 2026
. More details can be found at
here
. To purchase a seat at one such course, please visit
this page on the University of Kent’s online store
.
The above pilot courses are part of the joint campaign between iCSS and KMCC for promoting ISC2’s
1MCC cyber security certification campaign
, for encouraging more people to consider the entry-level ISC2 CC certification (free training materials and free exams!).
iCSS,
The STEM Hub
and KMCC co-founded
KMCSN (Kent & Medway CyberSchools Network)
in November 2023 and always welcome local schools and teachers to join as members.
Built on the success of the former Kent Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Cyber Security (KirCCS) established in 2012, iCSS has been representing the University of Kent as an
Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR)
, jointly recognised by the
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, part of the GCHQ)
and the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, part of UKRI – UK Research and Innovation)
. The University of Kent’s ACE-CSR recognition was achieved originally from 2015-2017, then from 2018-2023, and more recently from 2024-2029. Currently there are only 21 UK universities with an ACE-CSR status. iCSS further extends the cyber security research of the former KirCCS, especially within its socio-technical security and privacy research theme, into wider areas such as cybercrime, cyber law, online safety, cyber influence and behaviour, digital financial technology, cyber governance and cyber conflict. An interactive map of all ACEs-CSR can be found
here
.
Alongside our activities in research and innovation, iCSS also coordinates university-wide educational activities around cyber security, including our pool of cyber-related modules across different schools and new cyber-related interdisciplinary degree programmes. Since 2023, iCSS represents the University as an
Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACEs-CSE)
with a Gold Award status, recognised by the NCSC. As of April 2026, there were only nine UK universities recognised as both an ACE-CSR and an ACE-CSE with a Gold Award status. An interactive map of all ACEs-CSE can be found
here
.
In 2023, iCSS also established the
KMCS3 (Kent & Medway Cyber Security Student Society)
to engage University of Kent students from all subjects. Furthermore, iCSS has been active in many impact generation and wider engagement activities. Two examples are its role in facilitating the establishment of the
KMCC (Kent & Medway Cyber Cluster)
to develop the local cyber security ecosystems in Kent and Medway, and its school outreach activities in cyber security and online safety organised around the
KMCSN (Kent & Medway CyberSchools Network)
. If you are interested in working with iCSS on such activities, please get in touch.
In 2023, due to iCSS’s active profile in all areas of cyber security especially its wider impact and engagement activities, the University of Kent was named the
‘Cyber University of the Year’ of the inaugural
Real Cyber Awards
2023
.
iCSS has its
dedicated physical space
in
Keynes College
(B2 and C2), which hosts the management team, core academic staff, administrative staff, research staff and PhD students, in order to promote exchanges and collaborations between its members across different participating schools.
From time to time, we have calls for applications for PhD studentships and job posts. To find out more, visit our
Join us page
.
If you are interested in studying a cyber security degree, learning more about our activities, working with us on cyber security projects or anything else related to cyber security, please
contact us
. In addition, iCSS is a one-stop hub in cyber security matters for everyone – if you have a question on cyber security, or need help and don’t know what to do, feel free to reach out and we will find out how we can help you.