Clearwater Dynamics Selects KX for Cutting-Edge Cyber Threat Solution, Horizon

Disruptive technology group, Clearwater Dynamics has partnered with KX, the world-leading provider of in-memory, time-series database technology, to deliver Horizon, a transformational cyber defence platform that proactively prevents rather than passively responds to attacks.

Powered by KX, Horizon will use machine learning techniques to continuously search out and isolate advanced threats that would otherwise evade existing security systems. It provides real-time intelligence across terabytes of historical data, whilst managing real-time ingestion in a single unified and consolidated platform. Horizon’s development was spearheaded by a team led by Clearwater’s CTO Chris Sturgess, a former technical lead for the UK’s primary cyber intelligence agency, GCHQ.

Horizon is already proven in the maritime industry, where it protects against the greatest threats of email emulation and financial fraud without the need for embedded hardware or dedicated in-house cyber experts, whilst continuously monitoring the network’s surroundings to ensure that all threats are captured. Its success in protecting cloud environments has been recognized in dramatically lowered cyber insurance premiums for accredited clients.

William Unwin, CEO Clearwater Dynamics, commented: “Through our partnership with KX, Horizon empowers existing IT teams to react and mitigate threats on a same-day basis, without the need to invest in a resident cyber specialist. Cyber risk is identified and displayed in an intuitive way in order to minimise false positives and address the sector’s biggest issue of event fatigue and skills shortages.”

Patrick Brazel, Chief Commercial Officer, KX added: “Cybersecurity is one area where the need for speed and the ability to handle massive streaming and data at rest is unquestioned. KX offers an unrivaled, truly real-time solution in one simple analytics technology. We are delighted to partner with Clearwater to deliver an essential capability.”

About KX
KX is a division of First Derivatives, a global technology provider with 20 years of experience working with some of the world’s largest finance, technology, retail, pharma, manufacturing and energy institutions. KX technology, incorporating the kdb+ time-series database, is a leader in high-performance, in-memory computing, streaming analytics and operational intelligence. KX delivers the best possible performance and flexibility for high-volume, data-intensive analytics, and applications across multiple industries. The Group operates from 14 offices across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific, including its headquarters in Newry, and employs more than 2,600 people worldwide.

For more information about KX please visit www.kx.com. For general enquiries, write to info@kx.com
For press inquiries, write to pr@kx.com

About Clearwater Dynamics
British-based Clearwater Dynamics provides systems, solutions, and services to enhance maritime domain awareness and enables seamless integration of commercial vessel information with shore-based corporate applications. Clearwater Dynamics’ technologies are utilized by fleet operators and maritime service providers worldwide to improve operating efficiencies, streamline reporting requirements, automate back-office functionality and enhance vessel security. Clearwater Dynamics maintains a 24/7 overwatch on all its customers’ vessels and can provide immediate crisis management support from its Operations Centres in the UK and Malaysia.
www.cwdynamics.com

Chris McGrath
Before joining the private sector Chris McGrath spent over 11 years within the Military and Intelligence community, covering Counter Intelligence, Counter Terrorism and Counter Narcotics Operations. During this period Chris successfully led and coordinated the tasking and collection by GCHQ assets in support of forwarded “manhunting” operations in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Columbia. In 2009, Chris joined the private sector and oversaw the design and implementation of a successful quasi-government covert Counter Hostile Reconnaissance (CHR) programme; including technical counter-espionage activity; for the Olympic games. Following 2012, Chris has been engaged internationally as a senior advisor to the private and government sector on intelligence and cyber-related programmes.

Chris Sturgess
Chris has been at the forefront of the UK’s success in active defence cyber operations. Starting his government career at the age of 17, Chris spent over 15 years in the UK’s lead cyber intelligence agency, becoming the operational technical lead. Throughout his time in government, Chris developed a unique understanding of cyber threats and requisite tactics, techniques and procedures. Working to develop bespoke software solutions, Chris supported an agency strategy to increase cyber capability through a ‘downskilling’ approach. This saw a significant lift in the agency’s ability to meet an every-growing intelligence demand.

Before leaving government service, Chris was actively involved in the UK’s national cyber defence programme in identifying and removing hostile state cyber actors from the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).

Since leaving government, Chris has been pivotal in driving change in our understanding and response to cyber risk, through the delivery of ‘downskilling’ and cross-corporate communicable cyber assurance platforms, capable of reducing loss prevention and cyber fraud.

For Media Enquiries, please contact:
Chloe Buchanan or Enya Lumley
McKenna Townsend
Tel: +44 (0)1425 472330
Email: chloe@mckennatownsend.com or enya@mckennatownsend.com
William Unwin, CEO of Clearwater Dynamics is available for interview