Midlands-based CyberOwl has launched its first product, Medulla, following cutting-edge research carried out at Coventry University. The new monitoring system has been developed to prevent attacks on ships and could play a key role in detecting cybersecurity threats.
The technology monitors IT security to detect cyber-threats on ships, acting as an early warning system. The research, which was subsequently patented, set out to develop a system to detect cybersecurity threats early.
The project was shortlisted for the Lloyd’s Science of Risk Prize under the Cyber Risk category.
Following the research, CyberOwl – a firm headquartered in Birmingham – was set up and now works across major international hubs for shipping in Singapore and Greece. The company was one of just six across the UK to be given support from the National Cyber Security Centre’s accelerator programme, allowing it to scale up operations.
It has also been backed by the London Office for Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement to develop the technology.
The commercial product built on the research results allows for cyber-threats to be detected across IT and Operational Technology (OT) systems.
Siraj Shaikh, co-founder of CyberOwl and Professor of Systems Security at the Institute for Future Transport and Cities (IFTC) at Coventry University, said the project could help tackle growing cybersecurity threats.
“The wider cybersecurity problem and threat is only growing,” he said. “Not a week goes by without a story making the headlines about cyber-attacks.”
“A number of areas such as oil pipelines, factories and manufacturing facilities are subject to cyber-attacks. CyberOwl is very well placed to address some of these sectors as well.
“One area which is key for us is developing the technology for energy grids. We are very confident and well placed to solve some major problems.”
The research underlying CyberOwl took nearly a decade of modelling and analysis.