ABN AMRO first buyer of innovative self-healing cybersecurity software

Cybercriminals look for weaknesses in software used by large companies such as ABN AMRO in order to steal data. It is becoming increasingly difficult to protect data against cybercriminals as hackers discover new, more effective and more professional ways to find their way around in our digital world. Fighting cybercrime committed by cunning hackers is a major challenge.

Martijn Dekker, CISO of ABN AMRO: “Self-healing security software looks very promising. We are continuously exploring and experimenting with new technologies to see how much security they will be able to offer in the future. It’s a good way to learn from bioscience and to apply this knowledge to our IT systems.”

ABN AMRO does this by partnering with other financial services providers and companies, as one of the founders of TNO’s Partnership for Cybersecurity Innovation (PCSI). TNO has been working with these partners for a long time to improve cybersecurity. The shared goal is clear: to use the research and project results to help arm society against future cyberattacks. The latest development is software based on our own immune system. ABN AMRO was one of the partners that set up this initiative and is already using the technology.

PCSI

This past year, ABN AMRO joined forces with TNO in the Partnership for Cyber Security Innovation (PCSI) to work with various experts, including immunologists, to create and test the software. “We based our work on the way in which human cells fight viruses and bacteria and regenerate, and translated this into a concept for ICT security. Large organisations such as banks are struggling to ward off cybercriminals, who are continuously coming up with new strategies. This software offers protection by limiting the options available to attackers,” explains Bart Gijsen, who is leading TNO’s Self-Healing Security project.

Banks and other organisations invest heavily in securing their intellectual property and client data. Hackers, meanwhile, constantly try numerous avenues to access companies’ servers. Cybercriminals see where the security shortcomings are and cleverly exploit them. The more banks and businesses thwart digital break-ins, the more they will be able to protect society from cyberattacks.

The software will soon be made available to the public for use and adaptation.Read TNO’s press release here.