Opendata, web and dolomites

Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Be12 (A cyphered cloud based DataBank for the corporate sector)

Teaser

With the introduction of the cloud, we have harnessed the power of making information available virtually anywhere and at anytime. Ease of access to information which we never had before.As we have adopted these digital practices, we have grown an infrastructure where...

Summary

With the introduction of the cloud, we have harnessed the power of making information available virtually anywhere and at anytime. Ease of access to information which we never had before.
As we have adopted these digital practices, we have grown an infrastructure where companies provide services online facilitating our lives. These services deal with information which we, as clients, willingly share.

We trust these companies and institutions to deal with this information accordingly, storing and protecting the data with care so it does not to fall into unwanted hands.
Privacy and security is perhaps something which has often been taken for granted. Perhaps we also expect the mutual respect of these fundamental rights as something basic and human.
The problem is that data and communications are being intercepted and stored without our consent or knowledge. Data security and privacy are being violated on a daily-basis. Massive customer data breaches have become common in recent years. For cyber-criminals around the world, data continues to represent a treasure trove of opportunities for financial gain.

Data is power in the digital economy. Due to this, multi-national corporations have made farming data from monitoring everything we do – what we buy, who we talk to, where we take vacation – a core business strategy.

Data breaches may facilitate abuse by third parties, leading to cyber-threats. This not only affects users, but also business\'. The impact of a security breach can result into devastating costs.
Theft of corporate information, financial information (e.g. bank details or payment card details) or loss of business or contacts translates to revenue losses and also incurs costs associated with repairing affected systems, networks and devices.

Our objective is to develop a secure cloud platform for companies to be able to comply, store and safeguard their data and communications. Utilizing state-of-the-art ciphering algorithms, which have been proven to be superior to traditional ones, and taking the approach of “privacy by design” we look to enhance and empower the corporate sector with tools to have complete ownership, control and protection over their data and communications. We aim to instil security and privacy in the tools and workflow within and between companies. Business’ which deal with sensitive information must be equipped with adequate systems to keep the data they work with safe and respect the privacy of the data which they manage.

Work performed

A system to store data in a secure way was prototyped which then entered a feedback loop with collaborators and subsequently validated by partners from different sectors who gained interest as we developed and demonstrated the platform. We have created a web platform where companies can create, invite users to collaborate within the work-space of the company. With tools to manage their team as well as a cloud space where all information uploaded is previously encrypted on the client’s device and stored in servers located in Switzerland. This client-side encryption enables an end-to-end encryption (E2E), the keys generated are only known to the user. This approach is also known as a Zero-knowledge design to ensure privacy. The implementation of a secure ciphering mechanism in the platform alongside the features has required effort and know-how. The results are proving to be positive, we are observing an increase in interest in Be12, providing alternatives to cloud platforms with security and corporate privacy in mind.

Be12 has also developed a 2-factor-authentication mobile app, an extra layer of security to the platform, and a desktop application prototype which acts as a virtual hard drive on the client’s local machine synchronized with their data in Be12.

In the aspects of dissemination, we have primarily been in touch with our strategic partners, attending relevant events around the country and being in touch with interested parties and institutions. With the development team working in Spain, it was seen preferable to have contacts within a reasonable reach and to be able to attend these contacts for any support needed. Currently we are collaborating with university La Salle, government institution of Barcelona (DIBA) and other partners within the security sectors. We have also performed security audits for several clients and elaborated coursework material for educational purposes. These events have allowed us to get in touch with the different sectors and introduce ourselves and present the solution and services we provide.

Having recently launched, we are gradually gaining traction with as to date 20,000 GB purchased, 878 Users registered and 37 companies signed up. Our expectations are to activate in the near future key partners which will accelerate us, however this will proceed once we have achieved MVP of the desktop application. We intent to build up a marketing team to impulse Be12, catalysing with public relations events and campaigns.

Final results

We aim to have an impact where we can not only provide a solution to business\', but also inform, educate and advise companies of measures needed for an adequate protection of their digital assets and communications. We are looking to instil in the population a mindset of privacy and security consciousness. Our mission statement is to empower the corporate sector with tools to have the most advanced secure cloud platform. Where we abide to the 12th article in the universal declaration of human rights, the right to privacy. We believe that with the entry of artificial intelligence and the concept of smart cities, many concerns regarding privacy will rise. This is due to how surveillance and constant monitoring will perhaps appear ever more present in the daily lives of citizens. Therefore we hope to continue to work towards a system where privacy is respected, security is guaranteed and personal information is not farmed for profit.

Website & more info

More info: https://be12.ch.