On Tuesday, 28th January 2025, Quorum Cyber and Durham University hosted an exclusive roundtable event focused on cyber security in the higher education sector. The event, titled “CyberEd: A Higher Education Roundtable,” brought together data security and threat intelligence experts to discuss advanced Microsoft solutions for safeguarding educational institutions from cyber threats. Thanks to all participants who joined us. 

Event highlights

The event began with a group discussion on the challenges faced in the higher education sector. Key points included: 

• Budgets: Managing limited financial resources effectively 

• Legacy Systems: Navigating the complexities of outdated technologies 

• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Ensuring security in a diverse device environment 

• Security Staff Recruitment and Retention: Overcoming the difficulties in hiring and retaining qualified security personnel 

• Students Wanting Access to AI: Balancing the demand for advanced technologies with security protocols. 

Paul Cullimore, Solutions Director at Quorum Cyber, delivered an insightful presentation on managing devices in a ‘wild west’ environment. He explored the concept of Zero Trust and identity as the new perimeter and introduced Conditional Access to enforce logon policies and regain control. Paul highlighted the benefits of embracing conditional access, particularly in addressing some of the pain points identified by many higher education organisations, such as students accessing data from various devices and locations. 

The group discussed topics such as Microsoft Pilot, Proof of Concept (PoC), and Proof of Value (PoV) initiatives, with Paul inviting the audience to participate in further discussions.

In the second session of the day, Ryan Standbridge, Senior Incident Response Consultant at Quorum Cyber, led a highly engaging simulated cyber incident exercise. Attendees were split into three groups, each tasked with handling a cyber incident scenario. Objectives were set, roles and actions were defined, and participants took on personas such as CISO, COO, IT Management, Communications, and Trustees. 

The exercise offered a hands-on experience in cyber incident management. Feedback from attendees was very positive, with one participant noting, “It really put it all into perspective seeing it from all angles.” 

The event concluded with a wrap-up session, allowing participants to network and discuss the day’s insights. The collaborative environment encouraged valuable connections and knowledge sharing, leaving attendees better equipped to tackle cyber threats in their respective institutions. 

Event round-up

The CyberEd Higher Education Roundtable at Durham University provided a platform for in-depth discussions and practical exercises, enhancing participants’ understanding of cyber security challenges and solutions. We look forward to continuing these important conversations and supporting higher education institutions in their journey to cyber resilience. 

Thank you to all who participated and contributed to the success of this roundtable. 

For more valuable information on protecting your organisation from cyber threats in 2025, be sure to read our Global Cyber Risk Outlook Report 2025.

Additionally, don’t miss our upcoming Webinar: Cyber Outlook – Expert Advice for Overcoming Future Threats.