Content, IoT

Zvelo IoT Cybersecurity Service Monitors Network Devices

Zvelo is beta testing an IoT Security solution, a software-based sensor that discovers network-attached devices, profiles them and tags compromised units. Think of it as an elaborate, sophisticated hall monitor that knows how you behave, spots and reports abnormalities, takes your thumbprint and then scores you for trustworthiness.

The privately-held, Greenwood Village, Colorado-based company specializes in content categorization and malicious data services for web pages, devices and traffic.

It new solution, meant to integrate into an OEM model with wireless routers, SMB-to-enterprise level gateway routers, or UTM appliances, can recognize existing IoT and BYOD devices on a network or new ones joining without any prior information.

That’s cool but taken alone, while valuable, isn’t new or unique. Nor is the continuous monitoring its solution offers or that it creates a device profile to ascertain behavioral changes that may indicate a compromised thing.

Zvelo: What's New?

What’s different, according to Zvelo, is that its service inspects all seven layers of a network-connected device’s open systems interconnection (OSI) model, recognizes communications functions the device performs and establishes a fingerprint for identification.

It’s that distinction that enables Zvelo to detect anomalous traffic and behavior at a deeper and more detailed level than prior technologies, the company claims.

"The explosion of IoT devices has thus far outpaced effective security practices to keep them from being too easily compromised," said Jeff Finn, Zvelo CEO.

“Thoroughly understanding each device's normal and abnormal traffic and behavior and by enabling network security vendors to address targeted devices before harm is done,” is how he describes the company’s technology.

This is how Zvelo's assessment system works: It collects signals and threat intelligence from devices and sends them to the ZveloNET cloud for analysis. It then flags any detected anomalies and provides a zSCORE of the trustworthiness for each device, essentially an assessment of potential risk based on the device's current behavior.

In addition to IoT devices, Zvelo said its solution supports PCs, smartphones, tablets, printers, scanners, Bluetooth devices, IP phones and systems, security video and alarm devices, and industrial and manufacturing devices.

Zvelo: Potential Customer Benefits

Chief among Zvelo’s list of customer benefits include:

  • Detailed IoT device information helps customers to make better informed decisions for handling devices across their networks
  • The solution allows users to add devices to their networks knowing that any malicious activity will be automatically identified and addressed

Regarding the beta offering, Zvelo has invited prospective OEM vendors the opportunity to request information to participate in the test along with general availability product features and dates.

D. Howard Kass

D. Howard Kass is a contributing editor to MSSP Alert. He brings a career in journalism and market research to the role. He has served as CRN News Editor, Dataquest Channel Analyst, and West Coast Senior Contributing Editor at Channelnomics. As the CEO of The Viewpoint Group, he led groundbreaking market research.