The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has chosen the first five cybersecurity companies to join its NCSC For Startups initiative.
Launched along with innovation centre Plexal, the programme will see the five groups showcase their ideas to help address some of the issues facing the UK’s cybersecurity environment.
Plexal’s cyber innovation team and leading experts from the NCSC and GCHQ will provide the companies with direct support and help them develop their offerings.
Startups will also gain access to wider technical and commercial opportunities with Plexal’s industry partners across the UK’s cybersecurity ecosystem. Startups will keep all intellectual property and equity created during the programme.
Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth, said: “The UK has a thriving cybersecurity industry and I’m excited to get to work with our first five companies and bring their innovations to life.
“Finding great ideas that can help protect all areas of society is a key part of our mission and we look forward to collaborating with more startups as the programme rolls on.”
The five companies joining the programme are:
- PORGiESOFT – an edtech startup using AI to develop cyber fraud detection for enterprise employees
- Exalens – equipping SME manufacturers with an inexpensive threat detection service
- Enclave – helping organisations effortlessly create Zero Trust overlay networks
- Meterian – SaaS provider platform that builds a scalable and sustainable line of defence for apps that use open-source software
- Rebellion Defence – using AI to defend national security systems against threats like ransomware
NCSC For Startups includes companies at all stages of maturity, such as those developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), or with established cybersecurity solutions looking to expand into new markets and pilot technology.
It is the successor to the NCSC Cyber Accelerator, a programme that helped more than 40 tech companies raise over £100 million in external investment.
The programme will also receive support from Deloitte, Cheltenham cyber community organisation CyNam, coworking space Hub8, and tech skills provider QA.
Saj Huq, Director of Innovation at Plexal, said: “We’re excited to welcome the first innovators to NCSC For Startups. The response to our call for applications has been phenomenal and we’re looking forward to bringing on more startups throughout 2021 in response to specific challenges and technology needs in the cybersecurity market.
“The NCSC understands the UK’s cybersecurity challenges better than anyone, and the opportunity for innovative startups to benefit from its world-class insight and expertise is unique.
“Combined with Plexal’s extensive track record in supporting startups to become market leaders, NCSC For Startups will help companies address some of the most challenging security problems facing the government, businesses and society now and in the future.”
Over the last few years, the scale and volume of cybersecurity threats has increased. In addition, major cyberattacks, such as SolarWinds, Microsoft Exchange, Kaseya, and the Colonial Pipeline attack illustrate the severity a cyberattack can have. These can compromise multiple companies’ systems, have massive impacts on society at large. The possibility of lethal cyberattacks is also being seriously considered.
Furthermore, as the cybercrime ‘industry’ matures, enterprises are becoming more professional. In one recent example, hackers released images of about one million credit cards as part of a PR stunt for a new underground forum.
As such, governments are under pressure to tackle the problem. Plans were recently floated to create a Joint EU Cyber Unit to tackle growing cybersecurity concerns. In addition, US President Joe Biden broached the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with major Russia-based hacking group REvil going offline soon afterwards.
Source: DIGIT