MacLane Wilkison, Co-founder & CEO
When considering the potential of cloud computing and big data technologies, security often causes hesitation among enterprises contemplating implementation. NuCypher has committed to prioritizing security, ensuring that data remains safeguarded against breaches and unauthorized access. Founded by MacLane Wilkison, the CEO, and Michael Egorov, the CTO, the company aims to address the security and compliance challenges that have hindered the adoption of cloud services and big data tools such as Hadoop. Wilkison notes, “While the ecosystem for big data security has progressed in recent years, there are still notable deficiencies. Fundamental features like encryption key rotation and detailed, column-level encryption are often missing, which forces many organizations to either rely on less secure data protection methods or delay the initiation of big data projects altogether.”
Rethinking Network Security
Regardless of whether data is secured within a controlled network or disseminated across various environments, it is essential to recognize that no network is infallible. Modern enterprises must design their systems with the understanding that they can be vulnerable to breaches. NuCypher is at the forefront of enhancing big data security through a pioneering re-encryption cryptosystem that effectively manages data across different platforms, including both on-premise and cloud environments, without sacrificing performance or functionality typically associated with encryption.
Facilitating Secure Multi-Tenant Environments
NuCypher allows for delegated access for both internal teams and external users, facilitating the establishment of secure multi-tenant clouds and centralized data lakes for its clientele. The platform provides meticulous control over data access, enabling permissions to be managed down to the field level, which restricts access for users and services to only the data they are authorized to view.
Boosting Efficiency with Hadoop
Utilizing NuCypher in conjunction with Hadoop offers the advantage of not needing communication between computing nodes and the Key Management Server, thus alleviating latency issues and delays typically experienced over networks. “Crucially, no node within the cluster possesses the ‘golden key’ for decryption, as it is unnecessary for managing permissions and granting users access to data,” Wilkison emphasizes.
Rapid Key Rotation
Additionally, NuCypher excels in providing swift and secure key rotation, eliminating the downtime usually associated with shutting down encryption zones. Wilkison elaborates, “We can leverage the full cluster to execute key rotation in mere seconds instead of performing it manually.”
Emphasizing a Zero-Trust Model
A key feature that distinguishes NuCypher is its zero-trust approach, facilitated by cutting-edge proxy re-encryption technology. This model is particularly relevant for cloud deployments, as it minimizes the amount of trust needed in cloud service providers.
Meeting Client Security Needs
Cloud enablement is a prevalent application for NuCypher. For instance, a prominent investment bank outlined three critical requirements for migrating their data to a public cloud: first, encryption keys had to be stored onsite; second, secure key rotation was essential; and finally, the solution needed to comply with the FIPS 140-2 standard, which necessitates integration with hardware security modules. NuCypher stands out as the first and only solution that meets all three criteria efficiently.
Fostering Secure Data Sharing
NuCypher is also collaborating with leading technology firms to facilitate secure and auditable cross-organizational data sharing. “There is a growing interest in the concept of shared industry data lakes, where various participants can combine their proprietary data. NuCypher enables each participant to utilize their own key (BYOK) and easily manage access for their partners without the need for a single trusted administrator,” states Wilkison.
Standing Out in Big Data Security
With its continuous innovations and deep understanding of the unique challenges at the crossroads of big data, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, NuCypher is well-positioned to distinguish itself from competitors in the industry.
