Gartner hails Nozomi as frontrunner in AI CPS security

Nozomi Networks has been named the "company to beat" for artificial intelligence in cyber-physical systems security in a new Gartner report on AI vendor competition.

The research firm placed the industrial cybersecurity specialist at the front of a group of vendors that apply AI to protect cyber-physical environments. These environments include operational technology, internet of things devices and other connected systems used in sectors such as energy, manufacturing and transport.

Gartner said Nozomi's approach dates back more than a decade. The firm highlighted the early integration of machine learning in product development.

According to the report, "Native and embedded CPS capabilities and whole life cycle coverage out Nozomi at the head of the pack." Gartner said Nozomi's decision in 2013 to embed machine learning capabilities during the earliest stages of product development had given its cyber-physical systems security product an operational head start.

The research stated that this head start applied in several areas. These include cyber-physical systems discovery, analysis and security alerting.

Nozomi Networks focuses on industrial and critical infrastructure environments. It develops software that monitors networks and connected devices and identifies security issues.

"We are proud to be recognised by Gartner Research as the company to beat for AI in cyber-physical systems protection," said Nozomi Networks CEO Edgard Capdevielle. "We believe this recognition is a testament to our team's dedication to safeguarding the world's most essential systems and our ongoing commitment to innovation in AI-driven cybersecurity."

The recognition comes as industrial organisations expand the use of connected devices and automation across their operations. That trend has increased the need for security tools that understand both digital and physical processes.

AI-led approach

Nozomi said it has refined its AI approach in-house for more than ten years. The company has built an AI-based platform that focuses on early detection of threats that target industrial networks and physical assets.

The platform ingests data from operational networks and connected devices. It applies AI models to that data. It then highlights potential security incidents and operational anomalies.

Nozomi said its AI engine applies a range of techniques. These include enriching asset profiles, establishing baselines of normal behaviour and flagging deviations.

These processes feed dashboards and alerts for security and operations teams. The system aims to improve visibility over complex industrial environments that combine legacy control systems with modern connected equipment.

The company said its technology is in use across multiple sectors. These sectors include energy, manufacturing, transportation and healthcare. It also targets other industries that rely on cyber-physical systems for critical services.

CPS security race

Gartner's AI vendor race for cyber-physical systems security examines firms that provide broad AI-based protection for these environments. It looks at vendors that cover a wide range of needs and use cases for cyber-physical assets.

Cyber-physical systems blend software, networking and physical processes. They are common in industrial control systems, smart grids, building management, transport systems and hospitals. Security incidents in these environments can affect safety, service delivery and physical assets.

Vendors in this space focus on several tasks. They identify and classify assets on operational networks. They monitor traffic and device behaviour. They alert engineers and security teams to suspected threats and abnormal conditions.

Nozomi entered the market with a focus on operational technology networks. It later expanded its work to cover internet of things devices and broader cyber-physical systems. The company positions its AI effort as central to its product strategy.

Capdevielle said the firm views AI as a core element of defence for critical systems.

"We believe this recognition is a testament to our team's dedication to safeguarding the world's most essential systems and our ongoing commitment to innovation in AI-driven cybersecurity," said Capdevielle.