Data Security

Texas A&M System Deploys New Tech to Combat Ransomware

• By Rhea Kelly
• 10/29/19

The Texas A&M University System has become an early adopter of a new ransomware solution from Sectigo. The company recently partnered with cryptographic operating system developer SPYRUS to create an automated digital identity product that will help ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of university data, according to a news announcement.

"It is increasingly important for enterprises to manage and secure digital identities properly," explained Damon Kachur, vice president for IoT solutions at Sectigo, in a statement. "The collaboration between Sectigo and SPYRUS combines purpose-built PKI solutions with cryptographic operating systems to fully automate digital identity management, helping to assure organizations that their sensitive data is protected from cybercriminals."

By securing the university's authentication, encryption keys and algorithms, the Texas A&M deployment will allow university researchers to "meet all of the requirements for Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations, which is stipulated by the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clause 252.204-7012 in accordance with NIST SP 800-171," the announcement said.

"We expect solutions offered by SPYRUS and Sectigo to help ensure strong authenticated data encryption that will protect universities' intellectual property," noted Kevin R. Gamache, chief research security officer with The Texas A&M University System. "This model will scale to assure that all university research is secured and compliant with DFARS."