Knostic is a cybersecurity startup that won the 2024 Black Hat Startup Spotlight Competition, noted for its significant contributions to cybersecurity solutions.
Knostic.ai is focused on facilitating secure and scalable adoption of AI within enterprises, especially through their solutions for managing Large Language Model (LLM) data exposure. Their main offerings revolve around controlling access to sensitive information within enterprise AI systems and preventing data oversharing. Central to their approach is a "need-to-know" based access control system which aims to prevent unintended data leakage from AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and similar enterprise search functionalities.
Key Solutions and Initiatives:
Need-to-Know Based Access Control: Knostic implements access control measures specifically designed for enterprises using LLM-based AI tools. This approach is aimed at ensuring that employees can access only the data necessary for their roles, hence minimizing exposure risks.
Copilot Readiness Assessment: Knostic offers assessments for organizations planning to deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot and similar tools. These assessments map out potential data exposure risks within enterprise search functionalities, and provide steps for remediation before deployment.
Solution Briefs and Resources: The company provides detailed solution briefs to help enterprises understand and mitigate LLM data overexposure. This includes a focus on adjusting permissions, detecting policy violations, and understanding the security implications of AI integration.
Security Threat Research and Developments:
AI Attack Research: Knostic has identified enhanced threat models related to LLMs dubbed "Flowbreaking" attacks. These involve exploiting vulnerabilities in the AI system architectures that can lead to unauthorized information exposure or manipulation, bypassing expected safety regulations.
Mitigating Data Leakage: The enterprise underscores the risks associated with traditional access control methods (IAM and RBAC) when dealing with LLMs, which can infer confidential information even from limited data. Knostic's tools automate the detection of such oversharing incidents, ensuring enterprise data remains secure.
Technological Support and Implementation:
Cross-Platform Integration: While initially focusing on solutions like Microsoft Copilot, Knostic is expanding its support to other AI systems including Glean and potentially more in the future. This reflects their adaptability in scaling their access control solutions to wider enterprise AI tools.
Security Audit and Compliance: Knostic conducts regular audits and compliance checks to ensure their security measures meet industry standards. They ensure data protection laws are adhered to, with specific considerations for GDPR and other international requirements.
Organizational and Contact Information:
Leadership and Advisory: Founded by figures with considerable experience in cybersecurity, the leadership team at Knostic includes professionals like Gadi Evron and Sounil Yu, with an advisory board comprised of former CISOs and industry leaders.
Publications and Blog: Knostic’s blog covers insights into their research, industry trends, and developments in AI security. They discuss the implications of AI-powered tools and the importance of maintaining stringent access controls.
Knostic presents itself as an expert in managing AI security risks, aiming to equip enterprises with the necessary tools to ensure a secure AI deployment environment. They offer an array of tools, research, and resources targeted at preventing data leakage, enabling organizations to harness AI's potential while maintaining rigorous control over sensitive information.