Owl Computing Technologies granted patent for world’s smallest data diode cybersecurity technology

Owl Computing Technologies, Inc. of Ridgefield, CT announced on September 9 that it has been granted a new technology patent for the world’s smallest data diode. This hardware-based data diode is as small as a quarter and could potentially open the door to many new miniature and mobile cybersecurity solutions. Owl now has 27 U.S. issued patents and this patent (US9305189) again demonstrates Owl’s leading edge advancements in cybersecurity technology.

As cited by the Department of Homeland Security, network segmentation with one-way data diode communications is a proven way to reduce network attack surfaces, create a defendable environment, and implement secure remote monitoring. A network segment is created by cordoning off a group of cyber assets (digital controls, servers, databases, file systems) such that they can interact with each other but aren’t accessible by external resources. The data diode provides network segmentation while simultaneously enabling monitoring information from within the segment to be transferred to external end-users for remote monitoring and other uses.

Until now, network segments were typically defined as larger entities like power plants, data centers, substations, or large databases. Going forward, this new technology will enable network segments to get smaller, providing better security with only authorized entities allowed within the segment. With a miniature data diode, the segments could be as small as a single digital controller on a turbine, the control systems in a crane at construction site, a car going down the highway, or even small enough to defend a medical device like a pacemaker.

“The technology behind this patent opens up significant possibilities,” noted Dr. Ronald Mraz, president and CEO of Owl. “Hardware-based cybersecurity is proven to be more secure than software solutions and now this miniature technology provides access to areas that couldn’t be reached before. As the Internet of Things expands to connect more and more of our devices, security must also advance to protect them from potential cyber threats – our very lives could depend on it.”

Source: Owl Computing Technologies, Inc.