CybersecurityDHS S&T funds efforts to make Internet of Things safer

Published 6 July 2016

DHS S&T the other day awarded $119,000 to Ionic Security, Inc. based in Atlanta, Georgia, to advance detection and monitoring for Internet of Things (IoT) systems security. The Ionic Security team proposes to apply a novel distributed data protection model to solve the authentication, detection, and confidentiality challenges that impact distributed IoT devices.

Climbing toward the Internet of Things // Source: commons.wikimedia.org

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) the other day awarded $119,000 to Ionic Security, Inc. based in Atlanta, Georgia, to advance detection and monitoring for Internet of Things (IoT) systems security. S&T notes that this award, under the Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP)  Other Transaction Solicitation (OTS), sought to attract non-traditional performers to offer solutions to some of the toughest challenges facing DHS and the homeland security mission. The project, titled “Manageable At-Scale Crypto for Securing the Internet of Things,” was awarded through Securing the Internet of Things (IoT), Solicitation Number: HSHQDC-16-R-00035, the first call for proposals from the program.

“We are proud of the momentum coming out of this initiative,” said DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology Dr. Reginald Brothers. “Through our innovation programs in Silicon Valley and across the country, S&T is committed to working with our private sector partners – both large and small – to identify, assess and develop potential solutions to Homeland Security requirements.”

The Internet of Things is a convergence of mobile devices, information technology networks, connected sensors, and devices. DHS says that its OTS call for security solutions seeks novel ideas and technologies to improve situational awareness and security for protecting these domains, including sixteen critical infrastructure sectors monitored by DHS.

“We’ve had a positive response from the start-up community,” said Melissa Ho, managing director, of S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program. “We’re also excited by the diversity of solutions this solicitation is able to bring to DHS.”    

The Ionic Security team proposes to apply a novel distributed data protection model to solve the authentication, detection, and confidentiality challenges that impact distributed IoT devices. Specifically, Ionic Security aims to improve the integrity of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems and industrial control infrastructure as well as critical components deployed in the DHS network.