Bastazo and Salvador Technologies Secure $2.2 Million for AI-Driven Cybersecurity Project

Bastazo, a cybersecurity startup with strong ties to the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has secured a $2.2 million grant to develop advanced artificial intelligence automation and rapid-recovery hardware for protecting industrial control systems. This initiative is part of a collaboration with Israeli-based Salvador Technologies and is funded by the BIRD Foundation, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), and the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation.

The project, known as Extracted Configuration Security (XCS), aims to address escalating concerns posed by sophisticated external threats, including ransomware. By leveraging large language models to automate decisions in cybersecurity operations, Bastazo and Salvador Technologies are working together to enhance the resilience of critical infrastructures across various industries.

Bastazo was founded in 2020 by four professors in the University of Arkansas System, based on licensed technology initially developed in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Cybersecurity Center entitled Secure, Evolvable Energy Delivery Systems. The startup specializes in cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, using artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to support cybersecurity operations in critical infrastructures.

The partnership with Salvador Technologies provides an opportunity to reinforce security and innovation. Salvador Technologies is renowned for its rapid-restoration technology for control systems, and the collaboration enables a holistic approach to cybersecurity, ensuring not just rapid recovery but also preemptive threat detection.

The grant is also providing job opportunities for students and graduates in Arkansas’ growing cybersecurity industry. Bastazo has hired seven students and alumni to work on this project, contributing to the development of advanced cybersecurity solutions.

The BIRD Cyber Program, under which this grant is awarded, is a joint initiative to enhance the cyber resilience of vulnerable critical infrastructure in the United States and Israel. The program is managed by the BIRD Foundation and supports projects that aim to develop innovative cybersecurity solutions.

Bastazo plans to have the product ready for commercialization in 18 months, targeting a fast-growing global Operational Technology (OT) security market currently valued at $17.9 billion. The company’s growth phase is also underway, with plans to increase its workforce to 15 employees by the end of the year.

The collaboration between Bastazo and Salvador Technologies represents a significant step forward in the development of advanced cybersecurity solutions for industrial control systems. By combining revolutionary cybersecurity concepts with cutting-edge technology, the project aims to provide enhanced security and resilience for critical infrastructures across various industries.

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