(Farnborough – December 2) Lockheed Martin UK has officially opened its first Security Intelligence Centre (SIC) at Farnborough, extending its global reach and augmenting facilities in the United States. The Centre was opened today by Gerald Howarth MP, Minister for International Security Strategy.

The £2.5m. investment in UK facilities will strengthen Lockheed Martin’s Intelligence driven computer network defence 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.

It will be manned by a team of highly skilled and trained cyber intelligence analysts who hold UK passports. They will integrate into Lockheed Martin’s global computer network defence, while developing their own intrinsic strengths, and contribute to an active global exchange in cyber capability and tradecraft.

Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and persistent. So far, Lockheed Martin is demonstrating success in countering this threat. Lockheed Martin cyber intelligence analysts examine attacks at a macro level – breaking attacks into phases called the Cyber Kill Chain,' analysing 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 realisation at 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 defence solutions and training customer staff in the latest cyber tradecraft. Customers who have already reached a certain level of maturity in cyber defence 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 recognised 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.

“I welcome Lockheed Martin UK’s commitment to the cyber security effort. Today is further proof of the seriousness with which industry takes cyber security and is part of building a real and meaningful partnership with Government. We must ensure cyberspace remains open to innovation and make Britain one of most secure places in world to do business.”