Lifeline IT is building on its alliance with London Metropolitan University by running a series of cyber and governance projects that will be available to commerce and education.

The initiatives are part of a longstanding relationship with London Met, which Lifeline IT started working with in 2010. In addition, Lifeline IT’s technical director Navdeep Singh Batth is undertaking a PhD in cyber security with the academic institution, strengthening his already extensive expertise in the field.

Said Daniel: “We have had an excellent relationship with London Met for many years and this new venture is a bringing together of both our skills and expertise to develop products that will benefit the outside commercial world. It’s exciting to see what can be done when we collaborate and share knowledge.”

Navdeep’s PhD, which he is undertaking part-time while remaining in his role at Lifeline IT, will focus on cyber security adoption and the challenges organisations face in implementing effective cyber security measures.

Navdeep said, “I have always been motivated by a desire to understand the reasons behind problems. Through this research, I aim to investigate why businesses and institutions often struggle to adopt cyber security practices effectively. This is an issue seen across many sectors, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises, making it crucial to identify the root causes.

“Ultimately, I hope this research will lead to practical solutions that can benefit the wider commercial sector and drive real change. I am privileged to have this opportunity and am grateful to Adam and Daniel for their encouragement and support.”

About London Met’s School of Computing and Digital Media
The university’s School of Computing and Digital Media offers high-quality teaching supported by strong industry-relevant research. Covering subjects ranging from creative technologies to electronics, the school provides students with career opportunities in the following areas:

• Computer science and applied computing – including computing, software engineering and cyber security courses
• Communications technology and mathematics – including systems engineering, robotics, electronics and mathematics courses
• Creative technologies and digital media – including film, media, games, journalism and music courses

Based predominantly at the university’s Holloway Road campus, with a small number of courses taught at the Aldgate campus, the school has partnerships with other higher education institutions both nationally and internationally.

London Met has one of the UK’s first Cisco academies – a global education programme that teaches IT and networking skills and is run by Cisco Systems, the American technology company that makes the equipment and software that powers much of the internet and computer networks. Since its introduction in 1998, more than 5,000 students have graduated from the Cisco Academy.

The school has a history of collaborating with industry and works with businesses through initiatives such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). It also has a direct link between academic research and IT service delivery, through real-world research centres covering:

• AI & Data Science Research Group – applying AI to improve services and security
• Cyber Security Research Centre – developing best practices with industry experts
• Centre for Communications Technology – engineering and systems research

About Lifeline IT’s partnership with the London Met
Lifeline IT began its relationship with the university more than 15 years ago as part of the company’s ongoing collaboration with the educational institution’s School of Computing and Digital Media. During the partnership, Lifeline IT has offered business advice and support to students, as well as career placement and permanent employment.

Lifeline IT has also worked on product development with the school, including collaborating on a security defence product. The latest initiative will involve a joint project for the education sector and another in governance and compliance.

In addition to the London Met, Lifeline IT has also supported and worked with other universities and colleges, including sponsoring Graduate Fashion Week and backing students from the University of the Creative Arts (UCA).