As the number and variety of cybersecurity challenges continue to grow for the modern enterprise, so does the understanding that security is a top priority, regardless of your industry. Gone are the days when you select a single security provider. Growing technology development and uptake has created an unlimited number of potential threats. Enterprises need to broaden security horizons and look to multiple new innovators. This article profiles two security disruptors and what their offerings mean for your enterprise.
Exhibit 1: HFS Research
The Darktrace immune system is an internal defense strategy that puts malicious intruders to the sword
Darktrace believes that a determined hacker will breach any network—a perimeter style defense alone isn’t good enough. It has instead opted for a strategy of threat detection and mitigation using an AI system that builds a pattern of normal behavior and enables it to identify anomalies and respond accordingly with actions such as quarantining. Management compares this to the human immune system.
But Darktrace doesn’t focus only on malicious threats; it is much more proactive and looks for anomalies that could develop into problems. Justin Fier, director of intelligence and analysis at Darktrace, explains, “We’re not just looking for malicious actions, we’re looking for anomalies. Anomalies can turn into malicious activity, but they can also be a configuration error or an employee that’s gone rogue. We don’t want to just focus on the malicious arena because there are a lot of other things that can be very bad without it being malware.”
Darktrace’s autonomous response solution Antigena takes action against in-progress cyber-threats
It automatically prevents cyber-attacks from spreading by quarantining them when an incident arises without affecting ongoing business operations. The automatic quarantine response provides security teams valuable time to avoid major damage, especially when they can’t be on guard 24 hours a day. The product’s system is constantly learning, and it evolves to react to new technologies and new threats. An enterprise will always be prepared for hackers’ capabilities. The technology is self-learning and requires no set-up; it identifies threats in real-time, including zero-days, insiders, and stealthy silent attackers.
Finally, the product is user-friendly, as it allows constant remote monitoring via an app.
HFS Viewpoint- Enterprise needs to focus on securing internal and perimeter defense!
Darktrace has been established in the market since 2013; it proved its track record when WannaCry ransomware attacks hit and crippled hundreds of organizations in 2017. Darktrace spotted the anomalies produced by WannaCry within one second. Darktrace gained recognition by winning Best AI Cyber Security Product 2019 at the National Cyber Awards. The Darktrace strategy of focusing on internal defense is sound, but enterprises need to focus on a combination of both internal and perimeter defense. It would be unwise to invite an intruder into your house when you could keep them outside.
Exhibit 2: HFS Research
Aimbrain’s layered strategy is its bread and butter and offers greater perimeter security
Biometric security is nothing new. Its evolution in the mobile phone industry has led to its mass acceptance by the general population. However, Aimbrain’s multi-layered defense is unique, as it secures devices by applying layers of both biometric and behavioral technology, giving greater protection to enterprise devices.
Aimbrain offers a range of products to satisfy the needs of your enterprise
Two notable mobile phone protection offerings are Aimface and Aimbehavior. The Aimbehavior technology passively monitors a user’s behavior—down to the detail of how they usually hold their phone—constantly searching for anomalies to indicate the possibility of account takeover. For example, someone may be able to steal a phone and password, but with Aimbehavior, if they try to access that phone while holding it in a much different way to that of the usual user (right-handed instead of left-handed, for example), they will fail to gain access.
Aimface uses facial recognition, and it asks the user to verify a random verbal sequence within a limited time. This double layer of biometrics makes it significantly more difficult for any untrusted individuals to gain access to a device, meaning your enterprise can be confident its data is both conveniently accessible and secure. The technology will monitor facial features and voice to make this assessment. It is important to note that despite there being multiple layers of defense, an authorized user can quickly navigate through them.
HFS Viewpoint – Aimbrain is practical and simple
HFS views Aimbrain’s multi-layered defense strategy as practical and simple. It allows enterprises to operate smoother while driving time savings as it reduces manual entry of security passwords.
The Bottom Line: Security threats are everchanging, and multiple partners can maintain enterprise security much better than a single one. To remain secure, build your enterprise like a castle, and look to disruptors to build your multiple defenses.
What makes Darktrace and Aimbrain unique is that they are parts of a smart, multi-layered defense. Aimbrain acts like a sentry on a castle wall, keeping intruders from sneaking in. Darktrace is a castle barbican—it lets the enemy in so that it can control them. These disruptors are offering a different service; however, that doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t both be beneficial for your enterprise. Threats are everchanging, and enterprise security must be considered a castle: a keep filled with a variety of soldiers and equipped with multiple defenses.
Don’t entrust your entire cybersecurity process to a single provider. Castles initially developed to have multiple and thicker walls to fend off attacks fought with sheer strength. Look to the many thick walls of Minas Tirith in the third Lord of the Rings as an example. This defense strategy came at considerable cost and made access to the inner castle slow and time-consuming. Further, attackers would eventually breach these walls: reference a massive flaming battering ram. Therefore, engineers changed tack and built smart defenses rather than lots of thick ones.
Aimbrain and Darktrace are smart defenses. Aimbrain is the smart, early-warning system to prevent infiltration. Darktrace uses deception; it’s a barbican: just as the infiltrators think they have made it into the castle, they are trapped, and friendly forces rain upon them a brutal and devastating attack—much like the Red Wedding from Game of Thrones. These providers are not just thick walls!