CybersecurityLockheed Martin UK opens its U.K. cybersecurity center

Published 5 December 2011

Lockheed Martin UK has officially opened its first Security Intelligence Center (SIC) at Farnborough; the role of the SIC will be detection, identification, and response to information security incidents; this is accomplished by bringing together three primary capabilities: pervasive sensors, data management, and analyst collaboration

Lockheed Martin's investment will strengthen it's cybersecurity commitment // Source: lockheedmartin.com

Lockheed Martin UK has officially opened its first Security Intelligence Center (SIC) at Farnborough. The center was opened today by Gerald Howarth MP, Minister for International Security Strategy.

The company says that the £2.5 million investment in U.K. facilities will strengthen Lockheed Martin’s Intelligence driven computer network defense and ability to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving and persistent threats in cyber space. The role of the SIC will be detection, identification, and response to information security incidents. This is accomplished by bringing together three primary capabilities: pervasive sensors, data management, and analyst collaboration.

The center will be manned by a team of trained cyber intelligence analysts (the company says they will all hold U.K. passports). They will integrate into Lockheed Martin’s global computer network defense, while developing their own intrinsic capabilities.

The company notes that cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and persistent. The company’s cyber intelligence analysts examine attacks at a macro level — breaking attacks into phases called the Cyber Kill Chain, analyzing this data to identify patterns of persistent campaigns spanning multiple attacks, and implementing new mitigations to keep ahead of the threats.

Giri Sivanesan, Lockheed Martin UK Head of Cyber, commented: “Cyber attacks are coming from a wide range of sources. There’s a growing realization at the government level of the impact this growing threat could have on individuals, business and the national infrastructure. In the future we will be looking to support more customers in the public and private sector through advanced cyber defense solutions and training customer staff in the latest cyber tradecraft. Customers who have already reached a certain level of maturity in cyber defense will benefit the most from our advanced services.”

Minister for International Security Strategy, Gerald Howarth MP said: “I am delighted to attend the opening of Lockheed Martin’s new Security Intelligence Centre. The Internet has transformed everyday life but with greater openness, interconnection and dependency comes greater vulnerability. As recognized in the government’s Cyber Security Strategy, the threat to our national security from cyber attacks is real and growing and is a threat that we must face together across society… We must ensure cyberspace remains open to innovation and make Britain one of the most secure places in the world to do business.”