Netskope approaches 300 patents, spotlight on SaaS forensics
Netskope is nearing the milestone of 300 patents. In an interview, CISO James Robinson discussed the significance of their recent patent, the importance of patents in their operations, and how they contribute to cybersecurity innovation.
Patent Significance and Development
Robinson explained that while the Research and Development (R&D) (R7D) team usually secures patents, the cybersecurity team participates significantly through a program called Customer Zero. In this initiative, the Global Information Security (infosec) team collaborates closely with R&D to address real-world challenges, ensuring product development aligns with customer needs.
Recent Patent Overview
The latest patent focuses on a system for performing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) forensics within the Netskope platform. Robinson highlighted that forensics related to SaaS is less established than for Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) or traditional servers. This patent addresses the need for tools that provide visibility and understanding of SaaS applications as part of an organization's security landscape.
Challenges Leading to the Patent
The patent's development was initiated by the Global infosec team's inquiry about handling incidents with SaaS applications. Through tabletop exercises, it became clear that a support system for SaaS forensics was beneficial, leading to the successful patent application. This reflects the proactive role of the security team in identifying and solving real issues.
Value of Patents in Product Development
According to Robinson, patents secured by the Global infosec team become integral to the Netskope product offering. This contributes to functionality that addresses practical challenges faced by security teams. By taking on the Customer Zero role, they ensure that solutions are relevant and useful to their customers' needs.
This blog post provides a concise summary of Netskope's approach to leveraging patents as a vital part of its cybersecurity offerings and highlights the intersection between product development and frontline security challenges.