Tech Takes - the infrastructure podcast for education

Tech Takes: Solihull College and University Centre Unplugged Solihull College and University Centre tests cyber resilience through "unplugged days", exploring how teaching and operations continue without access to IT systems. This episode explores Solihull College and University Centre's cyber attack simulations, including full IT shutdowns and ransomware-style scenarios. It covers planning, leade...

Join Jasmine Reid and Ande Case as they explore the new cyber security hub and the future upcoming developments. Explore the hub today or request access - https://www.jisc.ac.uk/cyber-security-hub Jisc: for the future of education and research For more than 30 years, Jisc has pioneered digital solutions for UK education and research, transforming how knowledge is created, shared and used. As a not...

In this episode, Jisc security experts answer the critical SOC questions facing IT leaders and SOC managers, explaining how the Jisc security operations centre operates and the value it delivers. Explore our SOC brochure today - https://ji.sc/soc-brochure Find out more about our security operations centre - http://ji.sc/soc Jisc: for the future of education and research For more than 30 years, Jis...

Join Ben Chapman and Carole Coveney for a deep dive into Jisc's Janet Network resolver, a key service included within your Janet connection. Learn more about JNRS today - https://jisc.ac.uk/janet-network-resolver Jisc: for the future of education and research For more than 30 years, Jisc has pioneered digital solutions for UK education and research, transforming how knowledge is created, shared an...

Join Alex Harding, head of IT services at Runshaw College, to learn about the college's journey to onboarding to Jisc's security operations centre (SOC). Discover Jisc's cyber security products and services - https://www.jisc.ac.uk/cyber-security Explore the Jisc's security operations centre, the ultimate defence for education and research - https://www.jisc.ac.uk/security-operations-centre Jisc:...

Join Ben Chapman, head of architecture and engineering, to learn the key learnings and takeaways from Security Conference 2025. Explore Jisc's cyber security services - https://www.jisc.ac.uk/cyber-security Discover Jisc's Security Operations Centre (SOC) - https://www.jisc.ac.uk/security-operations-centre Jisc: for the future of education and research For more than 30 years, Jisc has pioneered di...

Join the Jisc cyber threat intelligence team as they explore North Korean APT43's attacks on UK research institutions. North Korean APT43, also known as Kimsuky, is actively targeting UK education and research institutions, focusing on academics working on geopolitics, nuclear policy, and North Korean affairs. In this Tech Takes: Quick Takes episode, Jisc's cyber threat intelligence team explains...

Discover key learnings and observations on working with passive cooled DC and why heat recovery is a clear solution for your next data centre. Join Daniel Traynor, Queen Mary University of London, and Simon Atack, University of Birmingham, for a two-part episode of Tech Takes, recorded live at Networkshop 2025. First, explore a successful data centre refurbishment project. Queen Mary University of...

Explore how Jisc's upcoming cloud assist service is being designed to help your organisation simplify Microsoft tenancy management.    Recorded at Networkshop 2025, this episode features Nick Brown, senior cloud solutions architect - M365 and Alice Yang, cloud software developer, as they discuss the evolution of cloud assist and share our vision for its future. From automating Intune policy deploy...

Join the Jisc cyber threat intelligence team as they unpack the rise of ClickFix and its new variant, FileFix. Quick Takes is our new short-form Tech Takes series, created to provide you with critical threat intelligence in minutes. In this first episode, we explore ClickFix, a deceptive social engineering technique that tricks users into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful files. C...

Join Jorgen Qvist, chief operating officer at NORDUnet, to explore Polar Connect, the visionary initiative led by NORDUnet and Nordic NRENs to establish a resilient, trans-Arctic submarine cable linking Europe and Asia by 2030. In this podcast recorded live at Networkshop 2025, learn more about how this route, traversing the High Arctic, complements the Far North Fibre system and offers a sovereig...

Join Sebastiano Buscaglione, senior network architect at GÉANT, for an overview of how GÉANT, and in particular the GÉANT network infrastructure, supports collaboration within the research and education community on a global scale. In this podcast recorded live at Networkshop 2025, learn more about how the GÉANT network underwent significant changes, transitioning toward an infrastructure ownershi...

Join Steve Howard, head of product, and Darren Jones, cyber solutions consultant, for a deep dive into Jisc's Cyber security threat monitoring (CSTM) service. Learn how CSTM helps organisations improve visibility across their infrastructure by consolidating key security data into a single, easy-to-use dashboard, all closely monitored by Jisc's security analysts.  We also explore how CSTM integrate...

George Oosthuizen chats to Rupa Dey about QMUL's initiatives as part of their 'Digital Workplace Programme.' Their vision is to provide secure Wi-Fi connectivity "anytime, anyplace, anywhere," from lifts to VIP suites, sports fields to overseas sites. Discover how implementing tools, such as extending eduroam, transforms the campus experience.  In just under 30 minutes you'll find out tips and tri...

Discover what it means to be connected to one of the most advanced research and education networks in the world. In this Jisc explainer's episode of Tech Takes, we dive into the incredible capabilities of the Janet Network with two of Jisc's network experts: Emma Taylor, head of delivery, and Neil Shewry, director of networks. Learn about the benefits of being part of a National Research and Educa...

Director of AI at Jisc, Michael Webb, leads a panel of experts to explore the use of artificial intelligence within cybersecurity live at Security Conference 2024. With the future of AI in cybersecurity poised for existential growth and innovation, this episode will explore how we navigate this exciting and challenging landscape, how AI will become increasingly integral to cybersecurity strategies...

Exploring how our managed SD-WAN service can help you meet the challenges of blended learning. Join Guy Easterbrook, director of products (networks), Jen Parry, innovation consultant, and Richard Jackson, head of cloud security, as they explain the ins and outs of the managed SD-WAN service in this episode of Jisc explainers, a mini-series of the Tech Takes podcast. You'll also get a sneak peek in...

James Hodgkin and Jim Keane discuss what the future holds for learning analytics in education.   In this episode of Jisc explainers, a mini-series of the Tech takes podcast, Jisc's James Hodgkin is joined by Jim Keane to discuss learning analytics. Both our presenters discuss their experiences of working in learning analytics and both deploying and building a new platform. They discuss how the dat...

Hear from our members at Networkshop 2024 to learn how they approach challenges, industry trends and prepare for the future.   At this year's Networkshop, we interviewed attendees from Northampton College, Loughborough University, the University of Leeds, SOAS University of London, and UCLAN. We first asked our members why they attend Jisc events such as Networkshop and the key benefits of attendi...

We chat with Alex Goffe, director of campus technology services at the University of Manchester, about their 2030 network vision and recently established IT operations centre (ITOC). Alex talks about network challenges they faced at the university and how they're tackling those issues. From implementing user experience insights sensors to establishing the ITOC, a 24/7 monitoring centre that provid...

In our very first episode of this new limited podcast series, Jisc Explainers, we're diving into Jisc's session border controller service. Host, Michael McFarlane, deputy director, network operations, is joined by Sam Neate, voice solutions engineer, to explain what our session border controller service entails. Sam talks us through how the session border controller works, and why it's needed; fro...

We're joined by Matthew Cranfield, Head of IT at Croydon College, to discuss their journey through cyber essentials certification.  Matthew explains Croydon College's reasoning for acquiring cyber essentials certification and explores the challenges faced along the way. Cyber essentials are vital to ensure security precautions are in place and critical for reputation and compliance. Matthew discus...

During this episode of the Tech takes podcast, we chat with Jason Oliver, Director of IT, and Claire Gryce, Deputy Director of IT, both of the University of Sussex. Jason and Claire explore the relationship and challenges that exist between research communities and the provision of IT services centrally. They also delve into the importance of developing a  culture around digital transformation. We...

In this episode, host Andy Powell chats with Dimitra Simeonidou, Professor at the University of Bristol, co-director of the Bristol Digital Futures Institute and director of Smart Internet Lab, about the future of 5G and 6G connectivity. Dimitra explains how 5G has caused digital transformation and revolution, and how 6G will enable great advances such as smart cities and kick off another generati...

In this episode, host Andy Powell chats with Simon Hewitt, Principal at Dundee & Angus College, about how they responded to a ransomware attack. Simon talks through the devastating effects a ransomware attack had on his college, why it was able to happen, and what Dundee & Angus have put in place to deal with ransomware attacks in the future. He also discusses the impact the attack had on staff an...