Partnership with University of Abertay Dundee leads to proactive global security solutions for ATMs

NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), the global leader in ATMs, is staying ahead of criminal hacking threats to ATMs by having academia help uncover potential threats first.

Working with the University of Abertay Dundee in Dundee, Scotland, NCR has developed the world’s leading corporate-academic alliance devoted to uncovering and addressing criminal hacking threats posed to ATMs. Rather than reacting to known threats as they arise, the security intelligence gained and adopted between NCR and the University of Abertay through the ‘Ethical Hacking’ program is designed to stop would-be hackers and viruses before crimes occur.

Approved and partially-funded through the United Kingdom’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), the awarded contracts represent a joint venture between the University of Abertay Dundee and NCR Labs, the advanced development arm of NCR. The aim of the program is to ensure that consumer trust in self-service is not compromised by criminal actions involving ATMs.

The current contract, the second to be approved through the KTP, focuses on personal authentication measures required to gain access to ATMs. The critical knowledge of illicit access to ATMs is an ongoing and growing threat to many ATM users.

“NCR is committed to holding its place as the industry leader in defending the integrity of the ATM channel for those who place their financial trust in us,” said Mark Grossi, head of NCR Labs. “This relationship is one of the ways NCR stays at the forefront of technology in our proactive fight against ATM crime.”

“The support from the Knowledge Transfer Partnership and NCR has enabled the university to develop world-leading research and education that have a significant impact on global security,” said Colin McLean, program tutor, school of computing and creative technologies, University of Abertay Dundee. “We’ve enjoyed building a relationship with NCR and take pride in the contributions these students have made in preventing unlawful criminal threats.”

The success from NCR’s partnership with the University of Abertay has led to notable achievements for both parties. The university has since implemented an ethical hacking program and offers two degrees – Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in Ethical Hacking.