Increase in the number of licences for HEAnet’s Cybersecurity Awareness eLearning Platform
We are delighted to announce that in response to our clients’ requests for a higher number of licences to our new Cybersecurity Awareness eLearning Platform, we are now in a position to offer more than 500 licenses per ICT Security Services (ICTSS) client institution.
We have transitioned to a model where licenses will be issued in tranches of 500. We will release another 500 licenses to clients whenever fewer than 100 licenses remain unused. This is designed to allow clients to target large cohorts of students and staff while allowing sufficient time for users to complete courses.
We invite ICTSS clients to take advantage of this expanded offering. To express your interest or request additional licenses, please contact us at ictsecurityservices@heanet.ie.
Client Security Forum 2025: Exploring AI and Cybersecurity in Education
On April 29th, 2025, HEAnet’s ICT Security Services team hosted the Client Security Forum (CSF) under the theme: “AI & Cybersecurity – Opportunities and Risks in the Educational Sector.”
The event was held at the HEAnet office in Dublin and streamed online to accommodate both in-person and remote participation. The forum brought together clients, cybersecurity professionals, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for a day of discussions, case studies, and forward-thinking insights.
AI in Cybersecurity: Promise and Peril
The forum opened with a deep dive into the dual nature of AI in cybersecurity – its ability to enhance defence systems and its potential to fuel advanced cyber threats. AI enables tools like automated threat detection and intelligent response mechanisms, but it also empowers attackers to craft more convincing, evasive, and damaging campaigns.
Key challenges highlighted included:
- Increased sophistication of AI-driven attacks
- Rising threat levels in education from 2022–2024
- The use of AI for phishing, malware development, and password cracking
Real-World Case Studies
Several powerful case studies were presented to illustrate the real impact of AI-enhanced threats:
- WormGPT – A malicious AI chatbot that generates realistic phishing emails, writes malware, and facilitates fraud.
- PassGAN – A password-cracking tool that uses Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to learn from leaked credentials and guess passwords with high accuracy.
- AI Voice Deepfake in Business Email Compromise (BEC) – A CEO’s voice was mimicked to trick an employee at a UK energy company into transferring €220,000 to a fraudulent account.
- Emotet AI-Powered Malware – Demonstrated how malware evolves using AI to evade signature-based detection, making it more resilient and harder to detect.
AI Compliance and Risk Management
A session on AI compliance explored how to:
- Identify and manage AI-related risks
- Maintain an inventory of AI tools in use
- Ensure alignment with laws and ethical guidelines
- Evaluate AI systems for fairness and transparency
This was followed by a presentation on AI Governance from Rida Villanueva, Head of Cybersecurity at CyberHealth, who introduced:
- ISO 42001 – The new AI Management System (AIMS) standard
- Alignment between ISO 42001 and the EU AI Act
- Practical implementation strategies for higher education institutions
Key Takeaways
The forum concluded with a strong call to action for institutions to:
- Develop and adopt ethical AI policies
- Promote AI literacy across staff and students
- Collaborate between education, cybersecurity, and AI development teams
- Embrace agile governance models to keep pace with AI evolution
The event reaffirmed HEAnet ICTSS’s commitment to supporting clients in navigating the complex and fast-changing cybersecurity landscape.
Photo: Nathan Duffy (HEAnet), Rida Villanueva (CyberHealth), and Daniella Vendramini (HEAnet)
Warm welcome to HEAnet’s new ICT Security Services Manager
We are delighted to welcome Glenn Wearen as HEAnet’s new ICT Security Services Manager.
Glenn brings extensive experience from his years at HEAnet, where he has contributed significantly to bringing our Identity Services portfolio through several generations, keeping our services relevant and tailored to the needs of our Education and Research community. In his new role, Glenn will provide leadership and guidance to the ICT Security Services team to ensure the portfolio of ICT Security Services remains relevant to the evolving needs of our client community.
