Cynalytica pioneers cybersecurity solutions for critical infrastructure protection
The company's groundbreaking platform provides passive, real-time monitoring for industrial control systems, addressing deep-rooted cybersecurity blind spots in critical infrastructure.
Cynalytica, a US-based cybersecurity company, is at the forefront of protecting critical infrastructure with its innovative approach to securing industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA environments.
Led by CEO Richard Robinson, the company has introduced a groundbreaking platform that provides passive, real-time visibility across a wide range of control system communications, including analog, serial, and IP/Ethernet. The solution ensures comprehensive monitoring from Level 0 to Level 3 without disrupting operations. Robinson's vision has positioned Cynalytica as one of the few companies capable of addressing deep-rooted blind spots in critical infrastructure cybersecurity, setting a new standard for protection in the industry.
Robinson spoke to Tahawultech.com during his visit to Dubai at GISEC Global 2025. He said: 'Our primary focus has always been on education and raising awareness within the technology space, particularly as it relates to the protection of critical infrastructure. Several years ago, we founded our company with a specific purpose: to address a neglected segment of critical infrastructure that had been overlooked globally.'
He highlighted that the key issue is that, prior to the internet, essential infrastructure such as water, transportation, and power relied on non-IP-based legacy communications. With the advent of the internet, the cybersecurity landscape has evolved, especially within industrial control systems. However, most cybersecurity companies focused solely on IP or Ethernet-based communications, overlooking the majority of critical infrastructure that remains non-IP-based. This gap still exists today.
'The impetus for founding this company was rooted in the Stuxnet incident, which is considered the first significant industrial control cybersecurity event. Stuxnet specifically targeted non-IP-based critical infrastructure components, highlighting a serious vulnerability in the industry. At the time, no technical solution existed to monitor these non-IP communications safely, and the challenge was clear: a new platform and technology had to be developed,' he added.
'Unlike Ethernet-based systems, protecting non-IP communications required a different approach. While most companies avoided addressing this issue, our team—driven by expertise in this area—took on the challenge. Over the past seven to eight years, we have focused on developing solutions for this exact problem.'
Cynalytica's primary customers to date have been the US government, mainly within the Department of Defense, who are acutely aware of the critical infrastructure systems that operate outside traditional IP networks and require protection beyond internet-based cybersecurity tools.
'More recently, we have seen growing recognition within the industry that significant portions of critical infrastructure are not being adequately monitored, and that viable solutions are now available. Many professionals in the OT and industrial control spaces remain unaware that solutions to protect non-IP infrastructure exist. This is why we are actively engaging with industry stakeholders to raise awareness. It is gratifying to see that our efforts are gaining traction,' said Robinson.
Cynalytica announced a strategic partnership with PwC Middle East, a development that marks significant recognition by a major global company in this field, validating the need for technological innovation in this area.
Jessica Ohnona, Executive Vice President of Data Science at Cynalytica, leads the development of machine learning and AI technologies that provide deep visibility into serial, analog, and hybrid OT environments—areas often overlooked by traditional security tools. Ohnona has been central to the company's growth strategy, product innovation, and market expansion across the US, the Middle East, and Europe.
Ohnona's work helps critical infrastructure operators strengthen cyber resilience without disrupting operations, while giving security stakeholders and investors' confidence in scalable, future-proof solutions.
Ohnona said: 'At GISEC 2025, Cynalytica showcased how we're redefining visibility in OT cybersecurity—bringing real-time, passive monitoring to the deep layers of critical infrastructure that traditional tools overlook. As cyber-physical threats grow more sophisticated, especially across legacy and hybrid environments, this level of insight is no longer a luxury—it's essential. Together with PwC Middle East, we're accelerating resilience and delivering the operational assurance that infrastructure operators across the region—and the world—urgently need.'
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