Cognitive Code Offers Siri-Like Approach to IoT Security

The growing adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) is inspiring security researchers to find innovative ways to secure it. To that end, startup Cognitive Code Corp. has developed a platform similar to Apple’s Siri that protects devices with conversationally intelligent apps that build security directly into the device.

Called SILVIA Secure, the platform allows developers to build conversationally intelligent apps that can reside natively on mobile devices and heavily encrypt and lock private data to a device, according to the company. These apps can be deployed on myriad “things” in the IoT, including mobile phones, televisions, cars, toys and even critical infrastructure.

The IoT has proven worrisome for security because the addition of multiple devices connected to the cloud or a common network means hackers have more ways to access entire server-based infrastructures. This could potentially expose consumers and businesses to major fraud and infrastructure attacks.

As security companies work to develop ways to keep IoT solutions safe, Leslie Spring, CEO and founder of Cognitive Code, said SILVIA offers a secure solution for server-based security breaches that are affecting mobile and embedded devices.

“While the rest of the industry will be scrambling for a long time to deal with the legislative and public fallout of these server-based security breaches, we have a secure and portable solution today, not two years from now,” he said in a press release. “Those two years can be the difference between your company disrupting the market or your company being disrupted by hackers and litigation.”

SILVIA is a cross-platform system for developing and deploying intelligent applications that allow for people to interact with devices via their voice. While similar voice-activated platforms are usually tethered to the cloud, SILVIA can be deployed on unconnected operations in compact and secure environments such as mobile devices and embedded systems, according to Cognitive Code.

The platform allows for voice interactions that understand queries without scripted or structured language dialog and includes customization features for a more conversational experience that’s independent of data connected to the network, the company said.

Moreover, SILVIA’s artificial intelligent algorithms encrypt the data stored on the device, which adds an additional layer of security to personal and private data that resides on the devices. The platform’s footprint on a device can be as small as 5MB, which means it can be deployed on even on very small IoT devices, according to Cognitive Code.

Founded in 2007, Cognitive Code has been gradually building its customer base for its technology, with global systems integrator Northrup Grumman a key early adopter. The company has been deploying their security-based applications for government and defense markets using SILVIA technologies for more than five years.

Cognitive Code aims to deploy Silvia Secure to the IoT as its strategy going forward to expand its business and provide security for the next generation of connected devices, the company said.