ACDS Taps Thoughtworks for AI-Driven Security Upgrade

Advanced Cyber Defence Systems (ACDS), a UK-based cybersecurity startup, has entered a strategic partnership with Thoughtworks, a global technology consultancy, aimed at enhancing ACDS’s product portfolio, particularly in Continuous Threat and Exposure Management (CTEM) and Attack Surface Management (ASM).

Thoughtworks, which specialises in digital innovation through strategy, design and engineering integration, will provide its DAMO™ AI-powered application managed services to ACDS. This service utilises artificial intelligence to optimise application performance and security.

US market in the crosshairs

The partnership, which commenced in March 2024, initially centred on enhancing OBSERVATORY, ACDS's flagship ASM product. ASM involves the continuous identification and management of an organisation’s external-facing digital assets that could be vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Elliott Wilkes, Chief Technology Officer at ACDS, explains: “We’re excited to work with Thoughtworks to take our ASM product to the next level and accelerate our efforts to deliver rapid innovations, quickly implementing new critical features in response to customer needs.”

OBSERVATORY has already gained significant traction in the US market, a key growth area for ACDS. The company aims to leverage this engagement to position itself as a leader in proactive cybersecurity, addressing the growing demand for robust security solutions in an increasingly digital business environment.

AI and threat intelligence integration

ACDS plans to incorporate cutting-edge technologies, including threat intelligence and offensive security, into OBSERVATORY. Threat intelligence involves collecting and analysing information about potential cyber threats, while offensive security focuses on actively testing defences to identify vulnerabilities.

“[Thoughtworks]’s expertise in evolutionary architecture and enterprise security will be invaluable and supports our intention to invest in the security of our products from the outset,” Elliott adds, “committing to principles of ‘secure by design’ to set a new standard in terms of cybersecurity product safety and resilience.”

Filip Huysecom, Communications, Media and Technology Market Director at Thoughtworks Europe, states: “By modernising their product architecture and focusing on continuous threat and exposure management, we aim to help ACDS unlock new opportunities in the cybersecurity market and deliver greater value to their customers.”

Comprehensive assessment drives strategy

Thoughtworks’ initial engagement involved a thorough assessment of ACDS’s products, digital infrastructure and the broader industry landscape. This comprehensive evaluation led to the strategic focus on OBSERVATORY, recognising its potential for growth and innovation.

The consultancy’s expertise in enterprise security and product design will be crucial in transforming OBSERVATORY into a more innovative and scalable solution. This transformation is expected to equip enterprises with enhanced capabilities to proactively handle the ever-evolving threat landscape.

Elliott emphasises the importance of agility in product development: “Our partnership with Thoughtworks allows us to rapidly implement new critical features in response to customer needs. This agility is crucial in the fast-paced cybersecurity sector.”

The collaboration aims to reverse-engineer real-world security pain points, ensuring that OBSERVATORY remains relevant and effective in addressing the most pressing cybersecurity challenges faced by businesses today.

Market positioning and future outlook

ACDS is positioning itself to capitalise on the growing demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions, particularly in the US market. The company’s focus on ASM aligns with the increasing recognition of the importance of comprehensive visibility into an organisation's digital footprint.

Filip notes: “What differentiates our partnering is our ability to move at pace with ACDS’ ambitious goals, proactively identify potential improvements with AI-powered insights and share a relentless focus on ACDS’ end-customer.”

As cyber threats continue to grow in sophistication and frequency, the partnership between ACDS and Thoughtworks represents a significant step towards developing more robust, AI-driven security solutions.

As Elliott concludes: “We are confident that OBSERVATORY will remain at the leading edge of attack surface management solutions.”

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