Josh Ray is the founder and CEO of Blackwire Labs, bringing over 24 years of expertise in combating superior cyber threats throughout industrial, non-public, public, and army sectors. As a U.S. Navy veteran and cybersecurity govt, Ray has constantly constructed and led high-performing groups to guard essential networks and organizations. His profession contains key roles at Accenture Safety, Verisign, Raytheon, and the Workplace of Naval Intelligence, the place he drove innovation and constructed capabilities to defend a few of the world’s largest organizations towards a myriad of superior cyber adversaries.
Josh’s mix of technical experience and enterprise acumen has been instrumental in driving progress and innovation within the cybersecurity {industry}. As CEO of Blackwire Labs, Ray leads the corporate’s mission to construct trusted and skilled AI cybersecurity options, leveraging his in depth expertise to navigate the advanced intersection of know-how, safety, and enterprise.
Are you able to share what impressed you to begin Blackwire Labs? What particular challenges in cybersecurity have been you hoping to handle with this enterprise?
The three of us – myself, Chris Clark CTO, and Andrew Maloney CCO – got here collectively as a result of we noticed organizations scuffling with the identical problem: they want AI to execute towards enterprise aims and defend towards refined threats. Nevertheless, the catch is they can not belief or implement present options successfully. Collectively now we have constructed safety merchandise and capabilities for a few of the world’s largest enterprises, we noticed firsthand how smaller organizations face the identical superior threats however lack entry to the experience they want. We stored occupied with all of the organizations that could not afford massive safety groups however nonetheless wanted safety. We really need to assist organizations of all sizes however we actually need to construct one thing significant that makes trusted expert-level cybersecurity capabilities accessible, not simply the elite few.
Your profession spans the army, public, and personal sectors in cybersecurity. How did every of those experiences affect your imaginative and prescient for Blackwire?
We’ve got a duty to serve and shield these organizations that kind the spine of our society. Every sector actually has taught me one thing important about what we actually have to construct belief and improve cyber resilience. On the Workplace of Naval Intelligence and supporting JTF-GNO, I discovered firsthand the criticality of getting the best set of experience on the proper time, particularly once you’re defending networks that shield our warfighters and nationwide safety.
At Raytheon and later at iDefense, I noticed how the non-public sector was grappling with more and more refined threats, most of the identical varieties that I noticed throughout my time within the DoD. What grew to become clear was that having siloed deep experience wasn’t sufficient – you wanted to have the ability to scale that data successfully throughout a corporation. This actually hit dwelling after I was main Accenture’s International Cyber Protection Apply, the place we have been defending a few of the world’s most focused networks and the explosion of third occasion threat and provide chain assaults.
However this is what bothers me: Whereas the most important organizations might afford to construct strong safety operations, numerous others have been left weak and the humorous factor is that they sit within the provide chain of these massive organizations. I noticed small companies, healthcare suppliers, and state businesses scuffling with the identical superior threats however with out entry to the experience they wanted. That is actually what drove us to begin Blackwire Labs. We wished to take all the pieces we might discovered about constructing capabilities and defending organizations on the highest ranges and make it accessible to organizations that want it most. By combining trusted AI with human experience, we can assist bridge that hole. It is not nearly constructing one other safety device – it is about delivering at scale the form of expert-level cybersecurity capabilities that I’ve seen make the distinction between a resilient safety posture and a devastating breach.
Blackwire Labs combines expert-vetted AI insights with blockchain integrity by way of TrustWire. Might you stroll us by way of how this fusion enhances the reliability of your cybersecurity insights?
We took a realistic and revolutionary strategy. We have constructed a sequence of belief that begins with our Cybersecurity Group of Excellence (CCOE) – seasoned professionals who collaborate with us to validate and improve our data base. We use a rigorous three-tier supply analysis framework grounded in intelligence analytical tradecraft. However based mostly on Chris’s expertise within the crypto house we’re in a position to take it to the subsequent stage. That is the place TrustWire is available in – our blockchain-based system that creates an immutable, cryptographically verifiable document of all our sources and AI outputs. Utilizing zero-knowledge proofs, we will show the integrity of our insights whereas defending delicate knowledge. Consider it as combining the most effective of human experience with cryptographic certainty. One other essential part of this strategy is our Safety Registry, which captures point-in-time snapshots of all cybersecurity analyses, together with insights, sources, the consumer needs to save lots of. Consider it like a system of document that gives a everlasting, shareable document of your safety decision-making course of – one thing important for explaining to your boss why you probably did one thing relating to audits, compliance critiques, and the incident response course of.
Lexi, Blackwire’s AI, provides predictive prompting and customised steering. How does this characteristic set assist safety groups anticipate threats extra successfully?
Like most issues in life, understanding “what” the best query is and “how” to ask it’s key. Our predictive prompting is not nearly suggesting subsequent steps – it is about enhancing human experience. The system understands your position, your group’s context, and your safety aims to information you towards simpler evaluation throughout a strategic, operational or tactical “select your personal journey”, as Andrew calls it, set of prompts. It lets you get extra detailed insights quicker by with the ability to account for a number of factors of view that may differ relying on the organizational position (Assume CISO/CTO- Strategic, incident responder/threat supervisor Operational, safety engineer/SOC analyst- Tactical). It’s like having a seasoned safety skilled that may put on a number of hats, trying over your shoulder, anticipating what it’s worthwhile to contemplate subsequent. However with out the black field selections or sources that may change or result in useless hyperlinks.
Blackwire is described as being “safe by design.” Are you able to elaborate on the particular measures that make your platform enterprise-grade?
The whole lot from our structure to our AI strategy is designed with enterprise-grade safety and belief in thoughts. Our CTO Chris has been doing this his complete profession and is adamant about this. Let me break this down virtually. At its core, our structure ensures full knowledge isolation between organizations, with strict tenant separation and configurable retention insurance policies. We’re adamant about knowledge privateness – we by no means prepare on buyer knowledge or queries, and all the pieces operates on a private-by-default foundation. Consider it like working your personal safe enclave inside our platform.
For entry management, we have applied enterprise-grade authentication with granular RBAC and MFA help. Every API key will be scoped exactly to particular permissions, giving organizations full management over how their groups work together with the platform. We have paired this with complete audit logging and safety monitoring, creating immutable information for compliance and safety critiques.
What makes our strategy distinctive is how we have constrained our AI fashions particularly to cybersecurity domains whereas sustaining full transparency. Once you ask Blackwire Labs about baking a cake it would say, “I am unable to construct a cake however constructing a SOC requires a layered strategy, would you want to speak about that?” It is because we have applied very purposeful constraints. Each response should reference validated sources by way of our three-tier framework, and our Safety Registry creates everlasting, verifiable information of all analyses and selections. This is not nearly “checking a field” safety features – it is about constructing a platform that safety practitioners can belief.
Blackwire Labs locations a robust emphasis on being user-configurable. What particular customizations can purchasers leverage to suit their distinctive safety wants?
Along with what I spoke about earlier with predictive prompting and contextcraft, we’re creating capabilities for organizations to securely leverage their proprietary knowledge alongside our trusted cybersecurity insights. The place customers can incorporate their particular enterprise context – whether or not that is inner insurance policies, structure documentation, or industry-specific necessities whereas sustaining knowledge privateness and belief. This ensures their delicate knowledge by no means leaves their setting whereas nonetheless offering complete, tailor-made solutions. Take into consideration a healthcare supplier needing to align safety practices with HIPAA necessities, or a protection contractor working inside CMMC frameworks. They will combine their compliance documentation and inner insurance policies whereas leveraging our broader cybersecurity experience. The secret is that every one of this stays cryptographically verifiable by way of TrustWire, sustaining our dedication to transparency and belief.
How does Blackwire Labs’ “Service First” philosophy, rooted in your army background, form your strategy to buyer relationships and cybersecurity options?
Our “Service First” philosophy runs deeper than simply buyer relationships – it is rooted in our faith-based ethos of servant management. This implies each determination we make begins with how we will finest serve our group and shield organizations that want our assist.
We’ve all grown up on this mission house, we perceive the challenges safety groups face as a result of we have lived them. We have walked in our customers’ sneakers. We’re constructing options we’d have wished ourselves. The safety group is small – everybody’s about one diploma separated from one another and status issues rather a lot. That is why we took a practitioner-to-practitioner strategy, bringing in design companions, advisors and beta customers (which ultimately become the CCOE) early to check our assumptions. We wished plenty of people within the boat with us early and infrequently. “This product is constructed for you, assist us make it actually helpful.”
We additionally know the way safety professionals are skeptical of distributors and in lots of instances rightfully so. That is why we deal with fixing actual issues moderately than advertising hype. When our customers inform us one thing wants to vary, we pay attention and act. This tight suggestions loop with our group, mixed with our dedication to service, helps us keep grounded and centered on what really issues.
Cybersecurity is a fast-evolving subject. What methods does Blackwire Labs use to remain on the forefront of {industry} tendencies and threats?
Our strategy attracts from confirmed methodologies, notably ones our CTO Chris Clark applied at Palo Alto Networks in establishing their world risk R&D functionality. Relatively than attempting to gather huge quantities of doubtless unreliable knowledge, we have developed a scalable, environment friendly system for data administration and risk intelligence.
We have applied a complicated triage system the place queries that do not meet our standards for being totally answered or sourced undergo each automated and guide overview processes. This creates a robust community impact the place gaps are addressed and data turns into out there to all customers. If our system cannot present a passable reply, it robotically triggers an inner overview.
What makes this strategy distinctive is our deal with high quality over amount. Our CCOE members, who symbolize numerous industries and roles from CISOs to vulnerability researchers, assist validate our data base and fill experience gaps. By overlaying basic areas comprehensively, we will deal with edge instances and rising challenges that actually require specialised data.
The secret is transparency – as I discussed earlier than our system is designed to confess when it would not have a solution, which then prompts our staff to fill that data hole. Typically, it is merely a matter of rephrasing the query (or utilizing the Lexi sensible prompting to robotically create a extra nuanced immediate that the consumer may not have the flexibility to create), which we will rapidly deal with. This strategy permits us to scale whereas sustaining excessive requirements for accuracy and reliability.
With the rise of Web3, quantum, and house applied sciences, how is Blackwire positioning itself to handle cybersecurity in these rising domains?
We discuss to and get recommendation from a number of people smarter than us. We’re blessed to have advisors who’re luminaries within the know-how and safety house like Matt Devost and Bob Gourley from OODA. They’ve shared insights and evaluation with us on these subjects and plenty of others. We’re additionally lucky to collaborate intently with people like Rick Howard and his Cyber Cannon venture – these are people that many in the neighborhood look to so as to perceive what’s subsequent. These are people who’re members of our CCOE but in addition mentors to me. The truth that we have all been doing this for a very long time and nonetheless have a really robust skilled community, many who I contemplate shut associates, are safety executives that assist us deal with each the right here and now issues and what’s subsequent. What makes this strategy highly effective is the way it informs our platform’s evolution. Whereas Web3, quantum, and house applied sciences are thrilling frontiers, we’re centered on constructing a basis of belief that may adapt to those rising domains. Our TrustWire know-how, as an example, already leverages blockchain and zero-knowledge proofs – core Web3 applied sciences – to make sure knowledge integrity and privateness.
However extra importantly, we have constructed our platform to be adaptable. We constantly combine new insights and experience as these applied sciences evolve. It is not about chasing each new development – it is about having the best experience and trusted framework to guage and reply to rising threats throughout any area after which assist our purchasers operationalize the best resolution.
What are your long-term objectives for Blackwire Labs, and the way do you envision its position in the way forward for AI-driven cybersecurity?
Our long-term imaginative and prescient goes past simply constructing a profitable firm – we need to essentially change how organizations strategy cybersecurity within the AI period. We need to do good and champion fact. We’re working to democratize entry to expert-level cybersecurity capabilities whereas making certain that AI adoption would not compromise safety or belief. We imagine the way forward for cybersecurity lies in combining human experience with reliable AI, and we’re positioning Blackwire Labs to steer that transformation. However we’ll do it thoughtfully, staying true to our ideas of transparency, humility, belief, and repair to our prospects.
Thanks for the good interview, readers who want to be taught extra ought to go to Blackwire Labs.
