Securing Tomorrow: How Fortanix is Shaping the Future of Data Protection
Intel Capital’s edition of the InTechnology podcast spotlights investors and leaders from the Intel Capital portfolio and their game-changing technologies. These conversations explore the key areas of technology Intel Capital invests in and the companies shaping the future of compute.
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, data security remains a paramount concern for enterprises and individuals alike. In this episode of Intel Capital’s InTechnology podcast series, co-hosted by Camille Morhardt and Sunil Kurkure, the conversation was focused on data security, featuring insights from Anand Kashyap, CEO and co-founder of Fortanix.
The Inspiration Behind Fortanix
Anand Kashyap, a seasoned technologist and security researcher, shared his journey and the inspiration behind founding Fortanix. His experience in the security industry revealed a persistent cat-and-mouse game between attackers and defenders, with no deterministic security solutions. This led him to explore confidential computing, a technology that uses hardware to protect data at rest, in motion and also in use, offering a more robust security paradigm. By taking a data first approach, and creating a hardware boundary around data and compute, Fortanix aims to make security more deterministic, ensuring that data remains protected regardless of its location—whether on-premises, in the cloud, or in SaaS systems.
Fortanix’s unique ability to manage data security across on-premises, cloud, and SaaS environments influenced our interest and long-term investment in the company. Fortanix's founders brought domain expertise that set them apart in the data security space, making them a compelling investment for Intel Capital.
Confidential Computing: A New Paradigm
Confidential computing, as explained by Kashyap, is foundational to Fortanix's approach. It involves using hardware-based Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) to protect data even while it is being processed. This technology, pioneered by Intel with its Software Guard Extensions (SGX), ensures that data within these secure enclaves remains confidential and tamper-proof. Fortanix leverages this technology to build products that offer end-to-end data security, making it one of the few companies capable of running SaaS services without accessing customer data.
AI in Security: A Double-Edged Sword
The conversation also delved into the role of AI in security. Kashyap pointed out that both defenders and attackers are leveraging AI tools. While security vendors use AI to enhance their tools and automate threat responses, attackers use AI to create sophisticated phishing emails and deep fakes. This ongoing cat-and-mouse game underscores the need for robust security measures to stay a step ahead of the attackers.
Preparing for the Quantum Future
Looking ahead to the future of encryption, quantum computers pose a significant threat to traditional encryption methods; however, efforts are underway to develop post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms. Organizations are advised to prepare by inventorying their encryption keys, adopting crypto agility, and educating themselves about new algorithms.
The Need for a Comprehensive Data Security Platform
The conversation concluded with a discussion on the platformization of data security. While other areas of cybersecurity have seen the rise of platforms, data security remains fragmented. The complexity of data environments, regulatory requirements, and emerging threats like quantum computing and AI necessitate a comprehensive data security platform. Such a platform would address data discovery, protection, and future-proofing, providing a holistic solution for enterprises.
Tune in to the full episode to learn how companies like Fortanix are at the forefront developing innovative solutions to protect data in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
