Innovator Spotlight: Harmonic Security

The rapid rise of generative AI (GenAI) has brought about both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges for organizations, particularly in data protection. According to MIT research, 77% of organizations identify data privacy concerns as major barriers to GenAI adoption. This has exposed long-standing deficiencies in traditional data protection tools. As organizations race to embrace AI, they face the critical challenge of securing sensitive data without stifling innovation.

Dan K. Anderson, a vCISO and industry expert, reflects on this pressing issue: “AI adoption is crucial, but the risks can’t be ignored. The days of saying ‘no’ to innovation are gone, but we need to be strategic about how we say ‘yes.’ Harmonic Security provides the framework for saying ‘yes, but safely’ in the GenAI era. It’s about enabling innovation while protecting what matters most—sensitive data.”

Harmonic Security addresses these concerns by offering a fresh approach to data protection, tailored specifically for the challenges of the AI-driven world.

What Harmonic Security Does

Harmonic Security redefines data protection with a unique focus on pre-trained models and user-friendly interactions. Traditional data loss prevention (DLP) solutions require extensive data labeling and complex rules that are difficult to maintain and prone to failure. Harmonic simplifies this process by leveraging pre-trained models that are ready to detect sensitive data in various contexts without the need for manual input.

The platform moves beyond outdated regex-based rules by deploying sophisticated models that understand unstructured data in the same way a human would. Whether it’s detecting confidential business documents or securing code repositories, Harmonic’s models are designed to identify and protect sensitive information accurately. This approach allows organizations to adopt GenAI tools confidently without risking data leakage.

Harmonic also introduces a new concept: end-user “nudging.” Instead of relying solely on security teams to enforce policies, Harmonic engages directly with users, offering gentle reminders and context-specific interventions to guide safe AI usage. This reduces the burden on security teams while promoting secure behavior across the organization.

“We’ve spent billions of dollars and decades of effort, but existing data protection tools have never been up to the challenge. Very few organizations are resourced enough to deploy them effectively. In the GenAI era, where large datasets are essential, the potential for data breaches is higher than ever. Harmonic enables organizations to use AI safely while addressing long-standing data protection challenges,” said Alastair Paterson, CEO of Harmonic Security.

“We wanted to adopt GenAI tools but were worried about the risks to our sensitive data. Existing controls could block the whole category, but that’s not what we wanted. Harmonic gives me visibility and control. I’m excited to roll out their ‘human-like’ data protection. Current-gen DLP is too much effort for my team and doesn’t find the things I care about,” said Sascha Maier, CISO at SV Group.

“Data security is long overdue for disruption. Harmonic is providing fresh thinking and new solutions to challenges amplified by AI,” added Rinki Sethi, CISO at Bill.com.

In Summary

Harmonic Security is pioneering a new approach to data protection that aligns with the needs of today’s AI-driven landscape. By offering pre-trained models, seamless integration, and user-focused nudging, Harmonic ensures that organizations can embrace GenAI tools without compromising on security. Discover how Harmonic can help your business protect sensitive data in the GenAI era—visit https://harmonic.security to schedule a demo and learn more.  Find them on Twitter (X): @Harmonic_Sec #datasecurity #genai #DLP

About the Author

Dan Anderson is a winner of the Top Global CISO of the Year for 2023 and currently serves as a vCISO and On-Call Roving reporter for Cyber Defense Magazine.  BSEE, MS Computer Science, MBA Entrepreneurial focus, CISA, CRISC, CBCLA, C|EH, PCIP, and ITIL v3.  Dan’s work includes consulting premier teaching hospitals such as Stanford Medical Center, Harvard’s Boston Children’s Hospital, University of Utah Hospital, and large Integrated Delivery Networks such as Sutter Health, Catholic Healthcare West, Kaiser Permanente, Veteran’s Health Administration, Intermountain Healthcare and Banner Health.  Dan has served in positions as President, CEO, CIO, CISO, CTO, and Director, is currently CEO and Co-Founder of Mark V Security, and Cyber Advisor Board member for Graphite Health.  Dan is a USA Hockey level 5 Master Coach.  Current volunteering by building the future of Cyber Security professionals through University Board work, the local hacking scene, and mentoring students, co-workers, and CISO’s.  Dan lives in Littleton, Colorado.  Find him online at linkedin.com/in/dankanderson.