Creativity & Security: How UAL Navigates Campus Cyber Resilience

At SEP2, we are privileged to support organisations that push boundaries, and University of the Arts London (UAL) is a prime example. As Europe’s largest specialist art and design university, UAL supports over 25,000 students and staff across six London campuses.

In a sector where technology underpins everything from video game design to networked sewing machines, protecting the digital estate without stifling creative exploration is a unique operational challenge.

Recently, Keith Joy, Head of Digital and Technology Infrastructure at UAL, sat down with Danny Palmer at Infosecurity Magazine to discuss how he approaches securing a modern, highly connected university.

“It’s Not If, But When”

During the interview, Keith shared a sharp perspective on cyber resilience and the value of sector collaboration:

From managing autumn account surges of 8,000+ new students to scaling Wi-Fi for an average of five devices per person, Keith highlighted why adaptable perimeter defence and identity controls are central to UAL’s cyber security strategy.

A Partnership Built on Genuine Collaboration

We are proud to work alongside Keith and the team at UAL to help manage their firewall infrastructure and keep their perimeter secure as their digital ecosystem expands.

For us, higher education cybersecurity isn’t about rigid, off-the-shelf solutions; it’s about providing true flexibility, deep sector understanding, and proactive support when peak traffic demands it most.

Reflecting on our ongoing partnership in our joint case study, Keith noted: