Crytica Security has introduced a patented system designed to detect tampering in operational technology (OT) devices from within, aiming to protect critical infrastructure, national security, and healthcare systems without disrupting operations. The technology addresses a growing vulnerability in embedded systems, where external monitoring alone fails to detect internal compromises that could lead to catastrophic failures in physical processes. By operating at the device level, Crytica’s solution provides a layer of security that traditional perimeter-based defenses cannot, ensuring that even subtle alterations to a device’s core functions are identified before they escalate into larger threats.
Threat detection at machine speed
The urgency for faster cybersecurity responses is growing. According to a 2026 report, AI-driven cyberattacks increased by 56% year over year. Half of organizations with security operations centers (SOCs) now use AI agents in production, pushing defenders to match the speed of attackers. That shift makes confidence in security signals more critical than ever. As adversaries leverage automation to exploit vulnerabilities in real time, the window for human intervention narrows, requiring detection mechanisms that operate at the same velocity as the threats they counter. The reliance on AI-driven defenses also introduces new risks, as false positives or delayed responses can undermine trust in automated systems, making deterministic evidence a necessity rather than a luxury.
Most cybersecurity tools monitor networks, communications, and vulnerabilities from the outside. Crytica’s system, called Rapid Detection, Alert, and Isolation (RDAi), operates differently—it runs inside each protected device. There, it checks for unauthorized changes to instruction sets and provides deterministic evidence of tampering. Unlike conventional solutions that analyze traffic patterns or behavioral anomalies, RDAi directly inspects the device’s firmware and configuration files, ensuring that any modification—whether malicious or accidental—is flagged immediately. This method eliminates the ambiguity inherent in external monitoring, where threats may be obscured by encrypted traffic or legitimate but unusual activity. By focusing on the device’s internal state, the system reduces the reliance on probabilistic models, which can be manipulated or bypassed by sophisticated attackers.
Dr. C. Kerry Nemovicher, CEO of Crytica Security, said existing security measures excel at observing external activity but fall short when it comes to detecting threats inside devices. “If an attacker alters a device’s instruction set or configuration files, the system must generate alerts immediately,” he said. “Our approach installs a lightweight agent—less than 100 KB—called a Probe, which performs Instruction Set Integrity Monitoring (iNSiM) without disrupting operations.” The Probe’s minimal footprint ensures it does not interfere with the device’s primary functions, a critical consideration in environments where even minor performance degradation could have cascading effects. For example, in industrial control systems, where devices regulate everything from power grids to water treatment plants, any latency introduced by security software could disrupt time-sensitive operations. The Probe’s design reflects this constraint, prioritizing efficiency while maintaining continuous, real-time monitoring of the device’s instruction set, which governs its fundamental operations.
Why internal monitoring matters
The stakes are highest in sectors where compromised devices can disrupt physical operations or endanger lives. Crytica’s technology is already being deployed in commercial, utility, and federal environments, supported by partnerships with security providers, OEMs, and systems integrators. In healthcare, for instance, medical devices such as infusion pumps and imaging systems rely on precise firmware to function safely. A single unauthorized change to their instruction sets could lead to incorrect dosages or malfunctioning equipment, with potentially fatal consequences. Similarly, in national security applications, devices controlling communications or surveillance systems must remain uncompromised to prevent espionage or sabotage. The deterministic nature of RDAi’s alerts ensures that SOC operators receive actionable intelligence rather than speculative warnings, allowing them to respond with confidence.
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C. Lloyd Mahaffey, Executive Chairman of Crytica Security, noted that organizations aren’t looking to replace existing security investments. Instead, they want tools that detect malware and anomalies faster. “Customers and partners are building an ecosystem around deterministic detection,” he said. “You’ll see more collaborations announced soon.” The demand for complementary solutions stems from the recognition that no single tool can address all cybersecurity challenges. External monitoring tools, such as SIEMs and XDR platforms, excel at correlating data across networks but lack visibility into the internal state of devices. By integrating RDAi into these workflows, organizations can bridge this gap without overhauling their existing infrastructure. The system’s compatibility with standard security protocols ensures that alerts are seamlessly incorporated into SOC dashboards, enabling analysts to prioritize and investigate incidents without additional training or workflow adjustments.
Traditional OT and IoT security solutions observe devices externally and infer threats. RDAi, by contrast, detects threats from inside devices and issues alerts that SOC operators can trust. The distinction is particularly important in environments where false positives can be as disruptive as actual threats. In critical infrastructure, for example, unnecessary shutdowns triggered by erroneous alerts can lead to financial losses or service interruptions. By providing deterministic evidence of tampering, RDAi minimizes the risk of false positives, allowing operators to act decisively when a genuine threat is detected. This reliability is further enhanced by the system’s ability to isolate compromised devices automatically, preventing lateral movement within a network while maintaining the integrity of adjacent systems.
This approach isn’t entirely new—similar internal monitoring concepts have been tested in high-security environments like defense and aerospace. What sets Crytica apart is its focus on minimal disruption and deterministic evidence, which reduces false positives in environments where reliability is non-negotiable. In military applications, for instance, embedded systems controlling drones or missile guidance must remain operational even under attack, making lightweight, non-intrusive security measures essential. Crytica’s technology adapts these principles for broader use, ensuring that commercial and utility sectors can benefit from the same level of assurance without the complexity or cost associated with specialized defense-grade solutions. The system’s scalability also allows it to be deployed across thousands of devices, from small IoT sensors to large-scale industrial controllers, without requiring custom configurations for each device type.
More integrations and partnerships are expected in the coming weeks, expanding the reach of deterministic device-level detection within existing cybersecurity architectures. These collaborations will likely focus on sectors where the consequences of device compromise are most severe, such as energy, transportation, and emergency services. As the ecosystem around deterministic detection grows, the technology could become a standard component of OT security frameworks, much like antivirus software is for traditional IT systems. The shift toward internal monitoring reflects a broader trend in cybersecurity, where the focus is moving from perimeter defense to resilience at every layer of an organization’s infrastructure.
