Cyber incubator graduates first international cyber startup, nurturing innovative ideas from small companies in the U.S., U.K. and Australia

BALTIMORE, Oct. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) and the bwtech@UMBC Cyber Incubator announced today that two more cyber startups – one representing the first international company to participate – have graduated from the Northrop Grumman Cync program.  iWebGate of Perth, Australia and Light Point Security of Baltimore have completed the Cync scholarship program.

Cync is a global cyber startup initiative created by Northrop Grumman and bwtech@UMBC to cultivate the brightest ideas in cybersecurity and commercialize these innovations for use in the federal marketspace. Formed in 2011, this partnership has created pathways for technology-driven startups to speed advanced solutions to customers, while providing extensive business incubation expertise and access to capital and talent to help companies thrive.

The newest Cync occupants include London-based Silobreaker; Baltimore-based Leverege, OptioLabs, and Huntress Labs; New York-based GuardX, Inc; and  ParaTools, of the University of Oregon.

“The technology emerging from the Cync program is truly leading-edge,” said Chris Valentino, program director, Cyber and Intelligence Mission Solutions, Northrop Grumman. “That’s why we launched it; to get these ideas out of the proverbial ‘garage,’ cultivated and making a difference for our customer. I continue to be amazed at the endless stream of innovation and pleased that we can help these companies nurture their technology and business plans to make a difference in global security.”

Cync graduates include DB Networks, KoolSpan, AccelerEyes (ArrayFire), Five Directions, Oculis Labs and Ayasdi.

“bwtech@UMBC's Cync partnership with Northrop Grumman continues to attract and develop promising cyber security product companies domestically and abroad,” said Ellen Hemmerly, executive director, bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park.  “Both Light Point Security and iWebGate have developed innovative technologies to fill existing gaps in cyber security and add to the thriving cyber security ecosystem in Maryland.”

About iWebGate and Light Point Security:

iWebGate has developed a patented technology providing a flexible, efficient, secure, and cost effective Software Defined Wide Area Network solution enabling connectivity to any site or device, on any network, anywhere in the world.  This revolutionary network capability deploys a multi-tenant, security-tested “on-demand network zone for provisioning services” between private networks and the Internet.

Light Point Security was founded by two former NSA cybersecurity experts with decades of experience in national security. They found that Web browsers are the most serious threat to network security, and that traditional, detection-based security products could never keep up.  The company invented the concept of using a remote, isolated web browser to address these issues. Their innovations have made it possible to click on any website without threat to your network.  Customers include Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, health care organizations and the federal government.

Cync is taking applications:

The Cync program is currently taking applications, looking for companies that address critical market needs in the areas of cyber, data sciences, big data, secure mobility and cyber physical systems/critical infrastructure protection. For information about applying to this scholarship program, go to www.bwtechumbc.com.

bwtech@UMBC is a 71-acre research and technology community at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). With more than 500,000 square feet of office and laboratory space, it is home to more than 120 technology and life science companies at all stages of development. bwtech@UMBC offers collaboration with university faculty and students, and enjoys a strategic and convenient location, close to downtown Baltimore, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and Washington, D.C. Its annual economic impact on the state is estimated to be more than $500 million.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visitwww.northropgrumman.com for more information.