How cloud infrastructure can prevent engineering IP theft

How cloud infrastructure can prevent engineering IP theft

Security is important to make cloud solution successful. Even latest researches shows security is not the first concern from companies considering to move to cloud solution (), it is still an important element of any cloud solution validation by IT and other companies.

One of the most critical elements of security is related to possible leak of IP. After all, if IP in a form of 3D model or other sensitive data is leaked, very little can be done to compensate company about such lost. It might be not sensitive for all companies, but it is an very important problem to solve to make the next step if cloud solution deployments.

I’ve learned about what Amazon started to do recently – Amazon Brings Artificial Intelligence To Cloud Storage To Protect Customer Data.

Amazon has become the first public cloud provider to blend Artificial Intelligence with cloud storage to help customers secure data. The new service dubbed Amazon Macie relies on Machine Learning to automatically discover, classify, and protect sensitive data stored in AWS. This service reports potential risks involved with the stored data, its permissions, and access patterns.

The story goes back to the acquisition of Harvest.ai by Amazon earlier this year. Harvest.ai website is still available, so you can learn more about the product. Here is an interesting passage from the website:

At harvest.ai our analytics replicate the processes of top security researchers: searching for changes in behavior of users, key business systems and applications caused by targeted cyber attacks. harvest.ai has successfully applied AI-based algorithms to learn the business value of critical documents across an organization, with an industry-first ability to detect and stop data breaches from targeted attacks and insider threat before data is stolen.

It made me think about possible way to prevent theft of engineering and manufacturing IP. 3D data, manufacturing instructions, bill of materials. These are critical documents and data in every manufacturing organization. Think about possible identification of IP such as 3D model or drawing shared using cloud infrastructure in a way that will trigger AI-based algorithm to stop sharing these date even if it would be stolen. To block such potentially dangerous activity can improve cloud technologies adoption in engineering and manufacturing.

What is my conclusion? Cloud providers such as Amazon have strong interest to solve critical issues related to adoption of cloud infrastructure by enterprises and especially engineering and manufacturing companies. It will open a way for an improved collaboration in design, optimized supply chain and manufacturing operations. Manufacturing networks will rely on public cloud infrastructure to develop future engineering and manufacturing processes across multiple companies and value chain. Just my thoughts…

Best, Oleg

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Disclaimer: I’m co-founder and CEO of openBoM developing cloud based bill of materials and inventory management tool for manufacturing companies, hardware startups and supply chain. My opinion can be unintentionally biased.

 

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