Western Daily Press

West cyber firm teams up with Israeli tech ‘unicorn’

- ANDREW ARTHUR andrew.arthur@reachplc.com

AGLOUCESTE­RSHIRE business co-founded by a former MoD cyber security boss has formed a new partnershi­p with an Israeli software firm.

Cyber Security Associates (CSA), which is based at Waterwells Business Park in Quedgeley, has a team that includes former government and military specialist­s who consult companies on how to manage IT threats.

The business has announced an agreement with tech ‘unicorn’ Pentera, to deliver its automated security validation platform to its customers.

CSA said its clients would now benefit from the software, which it said could provide a “complete, accurate and automated” account of their security from the latest potential cyber breaches.

The firm added the tech could reduce organisati­ons’ expenses and reliance on third parties by automatica­lly testing and validating security as often as needed, at a fixed cost.

CSA co-founder and managing director David Woodfine – a former commanding officer of the MoD’s Cyber Defence Unit – said the collaborat­ion would “enhance” its stack of cyber solutions.

Mr Woodfine said: “We all know the cyber threat landscape is rapidly changing as malicious actors become bolder, more knowledgea­ble and better equipped to carry out attacks. Our job, as cyber security solutions providers, is to make sure we spot any vulnerabil­ities before cyber criminals do, and Pentera will help us continue to deliver on that promise.”

Formerly known as Pcysys, Pentera was co-founded by former head of Israel Defense Forces’ cyber warfare group Arik Liberzon. Earlier this year the company announced the completion of a $150m Series C at a $1bn valuation.

Ben Turnbull, channel sales manager at Pentera, added: “We are excited to announce our partnershi­p with CSA to help its customers future-proof their cyber solutions. We share CSA’s commitment to delivering top tier solutions to their customers, and we are confident our

We all know the cyber threat landscape is rapidly changing as malicious actors become bolder, more knowledgea­ble and better equipped to carry out attacks CSA CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR DAVID WOODFINE

Automated Security Validation platform solution would complement CSA’s existing cyber stack.”

Gloucester­shire is known as a UK cyber security hub, with the UK’s first cyber business park planned around national intelligen­ce agency GCHQ’s headquarte­rs in Cheltenham.

The Golden Valley Developmen­t – a 200-hectare joint venture by Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council – will see the constructi­on of a multi-use developmen­t with 3,700 homes, two million square feet of commercial space and the UK’s first cyberfocus­ed campus Cyber Central.

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