Innovator Spotlight: Fortanix

Unveiling Secure Data Practices in a World of AI Risks

by Samridhi Agarwal, Master’s Student, CMU

In an era where artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly prevalent, organizations face new and complex security challenges. As discussed with Anand Kashyap, CEO and Founder of Fortanix, at the recent Black Hat conference, using unregulated, publicly available Generative AI tools in organizations presents growing risks that demand innovative security solutions. He emphasized the pressing need for robust data security strategies as the widespread adoption of GenAI models presents new attack vectors.

Emerging Threats with GenAI Anand pointed out two critical risks associated with GenAI: Employees could unintentionally expose confidential information to GenAI models, while malicious actors might exploit AI-generated content to mimic real users, deceiving individuals and leading to phishing attacks. GenAI models are vulnerable to hallucinations, where incorrect or misleading information is generated. Malicious actors can further exploit these models to introduce harmful code or spread misinformation.

Fortanix advocates for several strategies to mitigate these threats: Restricting access to sensitive data ensures that only authorized individuals can interact with critical assets. Data should be encrypted from its creation to deletion, minimizing exposure at any point in the process. By masking or anonymizing data, organizations can minimize the risks of exposing personally identifiable information (PII) or other sensitive details. Tools such as Fortanix’s Data Security Manager (DSM) ensure robust control over cryptographic keys and the integrity of software codebases.

Fortanix Key Insight: Enhancing Crypto Security Fortanix offers powerful tools to manage and secure cryptographic assets. The Fortanix Key Insight tool automatically scans on-prem and cloud environments, offering visibility into: Key locations across various services, Algorithm strength, including readiness for post-quantum cryptography (PQC), Rotation status and lifecycle management of cryptographic keys, Unencrypted services and overly-permissive keys, helping to quickly identify and mitigate risks.

Fortanix’s solution suite goes beyond mere visibility—it enables comprehensive management, ensuring data integrity, security, and compliance.

Fortanix’s platform offers several unique features that set it apart in the data security landscape. Fortanix Key Insight automatically scans on-premises and cloud environments, revealing critical details about an organization’s crypto security posture. The platform combines risk assessment, data encryption, and key management in a single, SaaS-based solution. Powered by Confidential Computing, Fortanix ensures data remains protected even when in use. Offers full cryptographic key lifecycle management across multiple cloud environments. Helps organizations prepare for the era of quantum computing by assessing and remedying quantum risk.

Fortanix’s Confidential AI platform further bolsters the company’s offerings, enabling organizations to securely develop and deploy AI models on sensitive data. This solution combines infrastructure, software, and workflow.

In today’s fast-evolving threat landscape, data security is more critical than ever. Fortanix’s robust solutions offer organizations a clear path to safeguarding their digital assets. Whether through managing cryptographic keys, securing AI data, or preparing for post-quantum cryptography, Fortanix is leading the charge in protecting the world’s most valuable data.

As organizations grapple with the security implications of Generative AI and increasingly complex data environments, Fortanix’s unified data security platform offers a powerful solution. By providing comprehensive risk assessment, robust encryption, and advanced key management, Fortanix is helping organizations secure their most valuable digital assets in an increasingly challenging cybersecurity landscape.

To learn more, visit them online and request a demo at:

https://www.fortanix.com/request-a-demo

About the Author

Samridhi Agarwal is an award-winning woman in cybersecurity, a reporter for Cyber Defense Magazine, and currently pursuing a master’s degree in information security at Carnegie Mellon University. She is passionate about emerging technology and cybersecurity, with four years of industry experience as a cybersecurity associate and solution advisor. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with various clients and industries, analyzing their security infrastructure and implementing measures to address vulnerabilities in alignment with industry standards such as NIST and ISO27001. She is committed to continuous learning and exploring advancements to enhance global security and safeguard data. Samridhi can be reached online at [email protected]