Amid the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence technologies, companies are increasingly concerned about exposing themselves to cyberthreats. A recent survey, which gathered responses from over 350 IT leaders, highlighted that more than half of the executives believe the complexity inherent in AI applications has weakened their organisation’s cybersecurity measures. Specifically, over 40% of those surveyed expressed concerns that their security teams lack the necessary skills to adequately protect AI applications and associated workloads.
The burgeoning need for robust AI security solutions has given rise to a new wave of startups dedicated to tackling these vulnerabilities. Among these companies are HiddenLayer and Protect AI, which focus on safeguarding AI systems from adversarial attacks. Cranium, another notable player, offers enhanced visibility into AI operations at the application level.
Entering this evolving landscape is Noma Security, a startup co-founded by Niv Braun and Alon Tron, which officially revealed its operations today. Noma Security aims to address various security challenges posed by AI by developing tools that identify at-risk data pipelines and code within data science environments. Additionally, Noma targets threats such as prompt injection attacks—an issue that poses a growing concern in the protection of AI models.
Niv Braun's experience at Verint, a customer experience automation firm, informed the creation of Noma Security. Braun identified a critical gap in the security frameworks traditionally applied to the AI and data lifecycle, which differs fundamentally from conventional software processes. “Existing tools are designed for the traditional software lifecycle,” Braun explained. “However, the data and AI lifecycle is inherently different. It involves distinct R&D processes, relies on different technologies, and faces unique technical vulnerabilities within AI models.”
Noma Security's platform is designed to detect and rectify misconfigurations in the components used to develop and manage AI applications, such as scanning for sensitive data within model training datasets. Braun suggests that consolidating AI app security functions into a single dashboard, whether in cloud-based or self-hosted environments, can significantly enhance a company’s ability to manage risk and streamline AI deployment.
By addressing these vulnerabilities, Noma aims to empower organisations to expand their AI capabilities with greater confidence. Braun noted, “Many single-function security solutions are flooding the market, trying to capitalize on the AI hype. By helping companies understand their AI application footprint and giving them governance controls, Noma is not only helping organizations minimize and mitigate risk, but also giving them the confidence they need to expand their AI usage faster and to more high-value parts of the business.”
Since its establishment in 2023, Noma has already attracted a roster of paying customers, including Fortune 500 companies in sectors such as business-to-business software, financial services, and retail. Recently, Noma secured a $25 million Series A funding round, led by Ballistic Ventures, bringing its total capital to $32 million. Prior to this, the company had quietly raised $7 million in a seed round spearheaded by Glilot Capital Partners, with additional involvement from Cyber Club London.
The new funding is intended to accelerate Noma's development and expand its go-to-market efforts, with plans to double its current 20-person workforce within the next year. Despite having substantial funds prior to the Series A, Noma opted to accept the additional capital to expedite its growth trajectory, further solidifying its position in the rapidly growing AI security market.
Source: Noah Wire Services