In an age where cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated by the day, a new cybersecurity technology has emerged with the promise to transform the way we protect our digital systems. TideCloak, developed by Tide Foundation, takes a bold new approach to security, operating under what is described as a “breach-assumed” model. This means that, even if an attacker gains high-level access, the system remains secure and resilient against compromise.
The primary goal behind TideCloak is to shift the focus of developers away from worrying about cyberattacks, allowing them instead to focus on what they do best—creating innovative features. By using a cutting-edge concept known as “Ineffable Cryptography,” TideCloak claims to offer a level of protection that makes it virtually impossible for attackers to steal or misuse encryption keys, which have traditionally been a prime target in cybersecurity breaches.
Dr. Matthew P Skerritt, a mathematics and cybersecurity expert at RMIT University, provided an insightful analogy to help explain this revolutionary technology. He compared the system to how the human brain works: “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, an institution at the forefront of technological innovation, has become one of the first to adopt TideCloak. This early adoption highlights the university’s ongoing commitment to advancing digital security, and its belief in the importance of staying ahead of emerging cyber threats. Ryan Saunders, Chief Information Security Officer at RMIT, explained their decision to integrate the new technology: “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 further highlighted the unique opportunity RMIT has in shaping the future of cybersecurity: “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.”
It’s not just universities that are jumping on board with TideCloak. Smart Building Services (SBS) Digital, a company specialising in smart infrastructure, is another early adopter of the new cybersecurity system. According to Jonathan Spinks, Chief Technology Officer at SBS Digital, the decision to implement TideCloak was driven by the need for a highly secure, decentralised solution. “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.”
The decentralised nature of TideCloak ensures that no single individual or entity, including system administrators, can control access keys. This not only improves security but also mitigates the risks posed by insider threats or accidental errors. The technology’s use of multiple servers to unlock data, in essence, means there is no singular key to steal, making it much harder for attackers to break through.