Overview
Cybercrime is one of the fastest-growing threats to the global economy, affecting businesses, governments, and individuals alike. As cybercriminals become more organised, more sophisticated, and more deeply embedded in the digital world, the need for smart, scalable, and accessible cybersecurity solutions has never been more urgent.
At City St George’s, University of London, Professor Raj Rajarajan is leading work that not only addresses this global risk, but helps society stay one step ahead.
With decades of experience in cybersecurity and security engineering, Professor Rajarajan is pioneering new ways to understand and prevent online threats, bridge the gap between academia and industry, and empower small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to protect themselves.
The Challenge the Research is Responding To
Cybercrime is no longer the domain of isolated hackers. Today’s cybercriminals often operate in large, international networks using advanced tools available via the dark web. Their targets range from major corporations to everyday SMEs—which often lack the resources, knowledge, or defences to protect themselves effectively.
As Professor Rajarajan explains: “The biggest vulnerabilities happen at small-to-medium sized enterprises. They may not have the funding or take cybersecurity seriously. Most of the cyberattacks now happen through these suppliers to the larger organisations.”
The consequences of this are severe:
• An estimated £1 trillion could be lost to cybercrime globally over the next five years.
• 80% of SMEs are expected to fall victim to cyberattacks.
• Many are unaware of their vulnerability until it’s too late.
This growing threat highlights the urgent need for practical, affordable, and intelligent cybersecurity solutions—especially for smaller organisations that form the backbone of national economies.
Partnerships Involved
Professor Rajarajan’s work is deeply collaborative, drawing on academic expertise, public policy, and industry partnerships:
• Cyber London: In 2024, Raj co-founded Cyber London, the government-recognised Cyber Cluster for London, which supports the region’s growing cybersecurity ecosystem and builds grassroots links between businesses, communities, and experts.
• Centre for Online Safety, Safeguarding, Privacy and Identity (COSPI): Co-led with Professor Carrie-Ann Myers, COSPI brings together interdisciplinary research across cyber safety, digital identity, privacy, and safeguarding policy.
Our Research
Professor Rajarajan’s research at City St George’s spans ethical hacking, AI-driven cyber risk assessment, cyber policy, and SME security. Key elements of his work include:
• Security engineering and cyber risk modelling, tailored to small organisations and high-risk industries.
• Development of AI-enabled tools that can analyse digital vulnerabilities and offer real-time solutions.
• Ethical hacking education and training, helping equip the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
• Creation of startups and innovation clusters that translate academic knowledge into real-world solutions.
At the heart of this effort is ARMOREX—a cutting-edge cyber solution platform spun out from City St George’s research. Designed for SMEs, ARMOREX uses smart assessments and AI analytics to:
• Help businesses understand their cyber posture (i.e., how vulnerable they are),
• Improve their eligibility for cyber insurance,
• Align with national cybersecurity standards and legislation,
• Support industries such as healthcare, finance, hospitality, and manufacturing.
ARMOREX doesn’t just benefit SMEs—it also helps insurers by streamlining and simplifying underwriting processes based on real-time security metrics.
Our impact
City St George’s cybersecurity research is making a real difference by:
• Protecting the economy: Helping SMEs adopt stronger cybersecurity practices and reduce their risk of attack.
• Supporting national resilience: Aligning with UK national strategy to make the digital economy more secure and sustainable.
• Innovating for real-world use: Developing practical tools like ARMOREX that bring academic research to market quickly and effectively.
• Empowering communities: Through Cyber London and COSPI, Rajarajan’s team is fostering greater awareness, education, and preparedness at a local and national level.
• Shaping future talent: Educating students and professionals to become the next wave of cyber defenders through hands-on, industry-informed training.
As the digital world evolves, the work of Professor Rajarajan and City St George’s will be vital in helping individuals, organisations, and governments stay safe online.
