Meet DB Networks, a next-generation cyber startup

DB Networks is the fifth graduate of Cync, a partnership between Northrop Grumman and the bwtech@UMBC Cyber Incubator created to support global cyber startups with an eye toward commercializing innovations for the federal marketplace.

By Northrop Grumman APRIL 17, 2015

A commitment to stronger global cybersecurity means investing in the ideas, technologies and people that will take the field ahead.

But moving promising technology into the hands of cyber defenders takes innovation and nurturing.

That’s why DB Networks’® graduation from the Northrop Grumman and the bwtech@UMBC Cyber Incubator’s Cync Program during the RSA 2015 Conference in San Francisco, Calif. is both a step toward building the nation’s cyber defenses and another success for an innovative partnership that has launched five start-ups to date.

“The Cync program is directly responding to a national need to cultivate innovation from all corners and speed the most promising ideas to the federal marketplace,” said Chris Valentino, director, strategy, Cyber Division, Northrop Grumman Information Systems and Cync Program Lead. “We are committed to advancing solutions and demonstrating the art of the possible to bolster cyber resiliency for customers worldwide.”

DB Networks, a continuous monitoring solutions provider, is driven by machine-learning and behavioral-analysis that non-intrusively and continuously detects database attacks. Its customers include the world’s largest financial institutions, healthcare providers, manufacturers and governments.  

“bwtech@UMBC greatly values the partnership with Northrop Grumman,” says Jennifer Reynolds, Director of Venture Creation, bwtech@UMBC. “Through this scholarship program, high-potential cybersecurity start-up companies have the unique ability to access resources and opportunities that would normally not be within their grasp.”  She further adds, “As a California-based cyber company, DB Networks is an excellent example of the reach of the Cync program.”

Since joining the Cync program, the DB Networks launched IDS-6300, an intelligent continuous monitoring product that “shines a light” on core networks. In October 2013, Info Security Products Guide named DBN-6300 a finalist for the 11th Annual Global Excellence Awards in six categories.

“The era of traditional techniques of identifying attacks through attack signatures is now over,” DB Networks CEO Brett Helm told CIO Review. “Today, understanding and creating a baseline of normal behavior is crucial to preventing future information security breaches.”

Instead of hailing a “silver bullet” strategy for defeating SQL injections, a widespread tactic that is estimated to be employed in vast majority of data breaches worldwide, DB focuses on alerting cyber defenders of suspicious intrusions, allowing them ample time to deploy a vast array of tools to block the attack.

DB Networks emerges from a Cync program that’s uniquely tailored to get technology into the hands of the intelligence and defense customers who need it most. 

Given the vastness and complexity of these communities, it is extremely difficult for start-up technology companies to navigate the federal marketplace, identify opportunities and commercialize technologies without the assistance of a large systems integrator like Northrop Grumman.

At the same time, many early-stage companies need the business incubation expertise and access to capital that bwtech and UMBC bring to the table.  

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

Up next? OptioLabs, a Baltimore-based start-up focused on securing mobile data, will join the Cync cohort.

OptioLabs, the latest startup accepted into the program since its inception in 2011, develops security products for the mobile enterprise and embedded systems.  Leveraging innovations developed for national security protocols, OptioLabs has pioneered advanced security solutions for the world’s leading mobile platforms

OptioLabs will be joining three other occupants at Cync: iWebGate of Perth, Australia; Light Point Security of Baltimore, Md.; and Ayasdi, hailing from Palo Alto, Calif.

Located at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), bwtech@UMBC  is a 71-acre research and technology community. With more than 500,000 square feet of office and laboratory space, it is home to nearly 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 unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

By Carrie WellsThe Baltimore Sun

Venture capitalists and the state of Maryland invested nearly $84 million in biotechnology, software and energy startups in the first three months of this year, according to a report released Friday.

The early and late-stage investments were spread among 12 firms, according to the report issued by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association, which uses data from Thomson Reuters.

A host of investors gave a combined $25 million to Vtesse Inc., a Gaithersburg-based biotechnology firm that is developing drugs for Niemann-Pick disease type C, a genetic disorder.

Nationwide, venture investments declined 10 percent from the previous quarter to $13.4 billion, according to the report, which said investments are typically less in the beginning of a year.

But in Maryland, the $83.7 million invested between January and March was up from about $70 million in the same period last year. Overall investment in Maryland firms fell to about $360 million last year from about $649 million in 2013.

Read more at: http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-venture-capital-report-20150417-story.html

Thursday, April 16th was UMBC’s 3rd Annual Take Back The Night speak-out and march. We had an amazing turn out and we couldn’t have done it without everyone’s hard work and support!

We had signs that were made by community members, staff, student organizations, and Greek life!

Jess and Megan setting up our TBTN Banner!

Setting up T-shirts for the mini Clothesline Project Display

Right before the Speak-Out

Staff member, Yoo-Jin Kang and Peer Health Educator, Kayla Smith, were the student emcees and march leaders this year!

Community listening to the Speak-Out

The march made a huge impact on campus.         We were even invited to march through the dining hall!

After the Speak-out, the community was invited to hang out together, craft for a cause, and enjoy some lemonade and cookies before leaving the event.

Richard Forno, assistant director for UMBC’s Center for Cybersecurity, was recently in American City and County to discuss government recruitment of cybersecurity practitioners. American City and County is a magazine that features stories of interest to state and local government officials.

In the article, Forno recommends that governments look for cybersecurity professionals with a combination of technical and soft skills. “You need people that have the right mix of technical talent and the ability to apply that talent effectively in the workplace,” he said.

Click here to read “Hunting cybersecurity talent” in American City and County.

Penny Rheingans, director of The Center for Women in Technology (CWIT), Susan Martin, associate director of CWIT, Carolyn Seaman, information systems, and E.F. Charles LaBerge, computer science and electrical engineering, recently received a $632,488 grant from the National Science Foundation to support transfer scholars in computer science, computer engineering, and information systems.

The grant will continue the work of the Transfer Scholars in Information Technology and Engineering (T-Site) program. The program provides scholarship funds, academic and professional programming, and a supportive community to encourage transfer student success in computing majors. The program is open to transfer students from Maryland community colleges.

Click here to learn more about the T-Site Scholars program.

After all was said and done, we have calculated the total points and the overall winner based on the following criteria.

Materials allowed are Popsicle sticks and masking tape

The bridge extended at least 12 inches, end to end

Weights were loaded on the center of the bridge (I'm talking about you Dylan)

5 points per leftover Popsicle stick

1 point per gram of weight held (not counting weights that fell off the bridge)

Below are the various team names and group members with their respective results.

Team Name: Truss Me I'm an Engineer

Group Members: Nicholas Rabuck & Dylan Rankin

Total Weight Held: 3,307 g

Total Leftover Sticks: 70

Total Points: 3,657

And the winners are... Tess Wootton-Klebanoff, Courtney Warrick, Jordan Fetterman, Kyle Lynch, Erika Heffernan, & Zachary Ratchford!!!! Congratulations! With a whopping total of 3,307 g held and 81 leftover Popsicle stick for a total of 3,712 points. You have won bragging rights for the remainder of the semester as well as ASME T-Shirts!

Determining how to structure your business is one of the most important legal decisions you'll have to make. Luckily for us we have Jason Pappas to help. 

Below is a simple table that summarizes the differences between the five structures of business you can have. Overall the best way for an entrepreneur to set up their business is S-corporation or a LLC.

Sole proprietor is the simplest business form under which one can operate a business. The sole proprietorship is not a legal entity. It simply refers to a person who owns the business and is personally responsible for its debts. This means that if someone is to sue your company you are not protected. You also need to pay all taxes on profits that you earn. 

A partnership is a legal form of business operation between two or more individuals who share management and profits. The federal government recognizes several types of partnerships. The two most common are general and limited partnerships. There is also no liability protection in case the company is sued. However, there is pass through on taxes. In short pass through means that you will not be double taxed for any profits. The rate on a securitized asset is "passed-through" to investors once management fees and guarantee fees have been paid to the securitizing corporation.

A C-corporation refers to any corporation that is taxed separately from its owners. A C-corporation is distinguished from an S-corporation, which generally is not taxed separately. Entrepreneurs would not want to structure their business as a C- corporation because there is no pass through on taxes. A C- corporation is best used if you want to reinvest the money into the business and avoid being double taxed.

A limited liability companies (LLC) is a business structure that combines the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporation. This structure also allows you to choose how you want to be taxed and if you can discriminate distribution between owners.