Startup OneLayer offers IoT protection on cellular networks

One Layer has launched out of stealth a cybersecurity platform that takes an identity based approach to secure IoT devices on private cellular networks, a fairly new market niche expected to grow steadily in coming years. One Layer assigns each IoT device an identity that follows it over Wi-Fi and cellular network connections. Security policy is then enforced based on the device identity. The platform can secure either private 5G or LTE networks, and it sits in a cloud based architecture.

“Most IoT security platforms for IP networks filter traffic, identify devices based on their address in the network access control (NAC), and then work with the NAC to enforce policies”, One Layer CoFounder, Dave Mor said. Most network managers are unfamiliar with cellular networks, so they need a podium like OneLayer's that abstracts the complexity of IoT security, Mor said.

Instead of using IP and NAC protocols, One Layer integrates existing security tools with its authorization, authentication and accounting software and extends their capabilities to the cellular domain. OneLayer describes the result as a simple, LAN like way to control private 5G networks.

Specific OneLayer security offerings include anomaly detection, network segmentation, microseg mentation, and visibility services like deep packet inspection. One Layer is developing endpoint detection and response and zero trust verification for a future release. OneLayer

focuses on the manufacturing and healthcare markets today, but plans to expand to all IoT use cases as the company grows.

Specific one layer security offerings include anomaly detection, network segmentation, micro segmentation, and visibility services like deep packet inspection

The private cellular market is increasing at a healthy rate. IDC predicts that the $1.8 billion global demand will grow to $8.2 billion by 2026 at a compound annual growth rate of 36 percent. Security will need to be a core constituent of any private cellular deployment, IDC analyst Brandon Butler said.

“Security is such an important, critical factor for any technology buying decision”, Brandon said. “I think there's going to be an increased focus on security tools specifically for private networking into the future”, he added.

OneLayer faces competition from Fortinet, which offers the FortiGate and FortiWeb platforms to help secure, control and visualize private 5G networks. But private cellular network security is a market that still has a lot of headroom.

“We're in the early days of being able to build out some management tools that can spread across both cellular and Wi-Fi networks today. I think in the coming years, that'll be an area where we're going to see a lot more advancements, in terms of capabilities that can stretch across both licensed and unlicensed spectrum, across cellular and Wi-Fi”, Brandon said.

In addition to its launch from stealth this week, One Layer announced $8.2 million in seed funding, led by Grove Ventures and Viola Ventures.