Press Release 14.05.20
Shadow Digital, Science and Technology Minister Chi Onwurah expresses concern over ARCHER supercomputer security breach
Shadow Digital, Science and Technology Minister Chi Onwurah has responded to the news that one of Britain’s most powerful supercomputers has been forced out of service following a security breach.
Chi said “Our research sector is vital to tackling the pandemic, and the ability to run calculations on the UK HPC System of models and forecasts is crucial to leading us all safely out of lockdown. We need urgent clarity on the causes of this breach and what impact it might have on ongoing research into the coronavirus and potential therapies”.
The ARCHER supercomputer is one of the most powerful resources in the UK and will now have to rewrite all of its user passwords. ARCHER have announced that due to the severity of the situation the ARCHER service “will not be returning before Friday 15th May. ”
Chi said “Even short delays to modelling can have a large effect down the line, as this can hold up laboratory work, where delays can get compounded due to the strict scheduling required to due to social distancing”
ENDS
Key reading for editors
ARCHER announcement: https://www.archer.ac.uk/status/