In-Q-Tel's newest investments eye data storage and deepfake defense
Gettyimages.com / Andriy Onufriyenko
By
Ross Wilkers
The intelligence community's venture capital arm identifies a pair of companies whose creations apparently are showing promise for agencies.
Cerabyte
Founded in 2022, this Germany-headquartered startup is developing a ceramic-based storage system that utilizes laser-matrix writing and microscope reading technologies to house data in a more immutable form.
Immutable describes an item that is unable to be changed over time. For Cerabyte, that means creating a data storage product that can last for at least 5,000 years.
Declassification timelines typically span for between 25 and 50 years for U.S. intelligence agencies that hold large amounts of data in cold storage.
“Cerabyte’s innovative technology can significantly enhance storage longevity and reliability while also reducing long-term costs and complexity,” Greg Shipley, managing director for IQT’s Munich office, said in a release. “This strategic partnership aligns with our mission to deliver advanced technologies that meet the needs of the national security community.”
As Cerabyte sees the world, more government agencies and commercial businesses will eventually have to manage data volumes comparable to the likes of Amazon and Meta. Increasing power demands and stress on grids also are part of that equation, which is driving Cerabyte’s push to develop its system as one of zero-power consumption.
“As the world enters the age of AI (artificial intelligence) and the use of digital information becomes unprecedentedly versatile and volatile, the need for permanent, immutable records has never been greater,” added Christian Pflaum, co-founder and CEO of Cerabyte.
Cerabyte has opened two offices in Silicon Valley and Boulder, Colorado, since it opened for business.
GetReal Security
Founded in 2015, this Silicon Valley-headquartered company designed its flagship product to detect and mitigate malicious generative artificial intelligence-centric threats such as deepfakes and impersonations.
GetReal is entering the next phase of its strategy following the closure of a $17.5 million Series A investment round that IQT participated in. Forgepoint Capital led the round that also involved Ballistic Ventures, Evolution Equity, K2 Access Fund, and the venture investment arms of Cisco and Capital One.
With that capital secured, GetReal will look to further develop its product line that includes tools for screening media and a forensics platform that can run analysis on an as-a-service basis.
The company is also in the midst of rolling out a new combined incident response service that works with organizations on dealing with complex incidents through a combination of forensic analysis and investigations.
GetReal sees today’s landscape as one where organizations that rely on digital communications to run their businesses as being targets for AI-generated or manipulated content that deceives employees.
That threat environment includes potential releases of sensitive data, entry into fraudulent transactions and customers trusting false information.
"As we've seen so many times before in the cybersecurity industry, when sophisticated tools become easily accessible, adversaries will strike. This time will be no different," GetReal CEO Matt Moynahan said in a release. "When people can't trust what they see, hear, or read, it will challenge every organization's ability to execute.