A pioneering cyber security start-up is moving into the US market after appointing a first global head of sales.
Barac is ramping up operations with the appointment of experienced cyber security professional Peter Christou and opening of an office in Boston.
Barac enables organisations to identify and stop the growing problem of malware hidden in encrypted traffic – one of the biggest challenges in cyber security today.
“More than 80 per cent of all corporate traffic is now encrypted, driven by the increased adoption of cloud services, IoT and onerous compliance requirements, such as GDPR,” said Omar Yaacoubi, Barac’s founder and CEO.
“Growth in the use of encryption represents a huge problem for organisations. Existing cyber security solutions leave organisations vulnerable to malware attacks because they are simply unable to protect against threats hidden in encrypted traffic.”
Using its expertise in AI and behavioural analytics, Barac has developed a platform that detects malware hidden within encrypted traffic without the need for decryption.
Its approach has received widespread industry recognition with Barac selected to join GCHQ’s prestigious Cyber Accelerator programme.
The programme, run by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre, provides support to companies that GCHQ considers ground breaking in improving the UK’s cyber security.
Christou has more than 25 years’ experience of helping innovative security firms grow across EMEA, APAC and the USA. He has previously driven sales and marketing for companies including Accelops, Securonix, NitroSecurity, Breach Security, Open Environment Corporation and Gradient Technologies.
“Malware hidden in encrypted traffic is one of the biggest threats organisations are facing today,” he said.
“Our ability to solve the problem gives us tremendous growth opportunity as we scale up the business both in the UK where we are headquartered, across EMEA and now in the US with the opening of our Boston office.”