Tide Foundation unveils innovative cybersecurity system TideCloak

Tide Foundation has launched TideCloak, a new cybersecurity system adopting a "breach-assumed" approach designed to enhance digital security even when high-level privileges are compromised.

TideCloak is aimed at allowing platform developers to concentrate on building features rather than dealing with cybersecurity threats. By using what they term "Ineffable Cryptography," TideCloak claims to protect systems in a way that is resilient to breaches, as no single entity, including system administrators, holds access keys.

Michael Loewy, Co-Founder of Tide, provided insight into their motivation: "As developers ourselves, we know what it's like to lose sleep over a new feature commit, hoping not to end up on TechCrunch for all the wrong reasons. We knew we needed an approach where the products we build could endure the inevitable breach, making it a non-issue."

In an explanation grounded in academic research, Dr Matthew P Skerritt, a researcher in mathematics and cybersecurity at RMIT University, described the technology's analogy to brain function: "Think of how an idea forms in the brain across many neurons. It isn't held in any single neuron, so stealing ideas by grabbing a few neurons, is futile. Only the entire network of neurons—the brain—can express or comprehend that idea. Similarly, Ineffable Cryptography uses a network of servers to unlock data, making it virtually impossible for an attacker to steal or misuse the key, because there isn't one to find."

RMIT University has been an early adopter of TideCloak, indicating its commitment to advancing cybersecurity. Ryan Saunders, Chief Information Security Officer at RMIT, stated, "As a global university, we're hyper aware of the ever-present cybersecurity risks to our data and are always looking to the latest innovations that not only addresses today's threats but protects against the unknown threats of tomorrow."

He added, "Our partnership with Tide presented an opportunity to be involved in the evolution of technology through practical application, using research theory in a real-world scenario and using real-time data. This type of learning is part of RMIT's DNA. Not only can we be part of the next step in technology and a paradigm shift in the way to approach security, but we are creating knowledge that can have impact in the world."

Another organisation that has adopted TideCloak is Smart Building Services (SBS) Digital. Jonathan Spinks, Chief Technology Officer of SBS Digital, commented on their motivations, "Integrating Tide's decentralised solution ensures that access controls in SBS Digital's utility platform are virtually immune to tampering, freeing us to focus on delivering an exceptional product."

Tide has released more details on this approach in an op-ed titled "Reimagining Cybersecurity." The company is currently inviting developers to apply for beta access to further explore TideCloak's potential applications.