Startups Are Changing The Future Of Cybersecurity
From a web-encrypting router to an automated platform helping to protect against data incidents in businesses, the startups helping to shape the future of cybersecurity pitched their ideas on the Access Stage at this year's WIRED Security 2017 conference. These are the companies you need to keep an eye on.
Kiran Bhagotra's Protectbox beat six other companies to be crowned the winner of the WIRED Security startup showcase. "Security is a right that all of us deserve," Bhagotra says. Founded in 2016, Protectbox is designed as a search and comparison website for cyber protection.
Bhagotra says businesses can sign-up to the service and answer questions about current cyber protection; Protectbox's algorithms will then match it with potential suppliers based on required standards and regulations, such as the upcoming GDPR. Cybersecurity vendors can sign-up to Protectbox to get their services recommended to potential customers.
Protectbox was voted to be the winner of the startup showcase by judges from HackerOne, IBM, and Symantec.
Hook
People are one of the main problems in cybersecurity, says Oliver Rees. The co-founder of phishing platform Hook is aiming to "solve the human problem" in businesses. The company runs personalised phishing tests, which aim to identify employees who may fall for a scam email and put internal data at risk. Instead of only offering a subscription service, Hook runs tests on a pay-as-you-go basis.
ImmersiveLabs
ImmersiveLabs uses gamification to help people develop their cyber skills. "We can identify who it is with the skills," says CEO James Hadley. The firm's cloud-based assessment platform shows people how to improve their coding, open source intelligence skills, penetration testing and more. Users of the platform are encouraged with points and badges when they complete tasks.
Invizbox
"Protecting your privacy is not about having something to hide," says Invizbox co-founder Elizabeth Canavan. The company has built a range of routers for use at home and on the go that encrypt everything you do online. The plug-and-play devices automatically hook-up to existing internet connections, meaning users don't have to install a virtual private network (VPN) on every device.
CyberSmart
CyberSmart co-founder Jamie Aktar is passionate about compliance. His London-based firm aims to plug holes in companies information security practices and help them to meet the government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme. "Businesses need to be proactive, rather than reactive," Aktar says. The firm identifies weaknesses in systems, helps to fix them, and then is able to certify for Cyber Essentials compliance.
Threatinformer
Ryan Jones's ThreatInformer is aiming to "bring cyber insurance to life". The firm has created an automated security risk assessment system that allows a cyber insurance profile to be created. Threatinformer also offers risk tracking and services for both underwriters and brokers.
Verimuchme
"The more we do, the less control we have," says Rehman Zafar, the co-founder of Verimuchme. The platform is a digital wallet and exchange platform for personal information. It allows personal information about an individual to be shared across encrypted channels to different enterprises. Zafar says the system holds a complete audit history of an individual's personal information and consent to access the data must be granted by its owner.
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