Concentric AI addresses the challenge of ensuring robust data security across diverse and dynamic environments. In this show, Karthik Krishnan, Co-Founder and CEO of Concentric AI, shares insights into the company’s origins and its focus on advancing data security posture management (DSPM) for modern enterprises. Krishnan discusses the limitations of traditional security tools and details how Concentric AI leverages generative AI (GenAI) and semantic models to deliver deeper contextual understanding and automation. Following a successful Series B funding round, Krishnan explains the areas where they plan to focus on. Krishnan emphasizes, “We’ve made it very easy for customers to understand their sensitive data, recognize potential risks, and take protective measures to prevent data loss.”

Concentric AI’s origin and challenges in data security

• Krishnan explains that Concentric AI was founded five years ago, sparked by a conversation with a CISO at HP, who expressed concerns about effectively managing sensitive data across complex environments.
• Krishnan highlights that today’s data security landscape is increasingly complex, with data volumes growing exponentially and data spread across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, making protection a continuous task.
• Traditional data security tools often fall short of providing comprehensive insights, underscoring the need for innovative solutions using deep learning and generative AI to meet these evolving demands.

The role of AI in data security for enhanced insights and automation

• Krishnan explains that while application security is often managed by IT and development teams, data security requires more flexibility due to continuous changes caused by user interactions and operational shifts.
• Many enterprises face challenges in locating sensitive data across their systems, leading to difficulties in monitoring, managing access, and implementing effective data protection measures.
• Krishnan emphasizes the need to move beyond traditional security frameworks and employ AI for enhanced insights and automation, allowing companies to strengthen their security postures in real time.

Understanding Data Security Posture Management (DSPM)

• Krishnan breaks down DSPM, explaining that it allows enterprises to locate sensitive data scattered across various types and environments, including structured and unstructured datasets.
• Krishnan clarifies that once this data is identified, it’s crucial to assess potential risks, monitor access and sharing, and classify information correctly to ensure compliance and reduce exposure.
• Krishnan points out that traditional methods rely heavily on manual processes, while newer approaches aim to streamline these tasks through automation, minimizing the need for large in-house teams.

Leveraging AI and generative models in data security

• Krishnan explains that generative AI models, similar to those powering tools like ChatGPT, offer scalability through unsupervised learning, becoming more effective as they process large datasets.
• Concentric AI employs language and semantic models, providing a richer, context-aware understanding of data that surpasses the accuracy of basic pattern-matching techniques.
• Krishnan emphasizes that by leveraging this contextual insight, Concentric AI allows security teams to respond more accurately to potential data risks, ensuring critical data is protected appropriately.

Semantic Intelligence and its applications

• Krishnan elaborates on Semantic Intelligence, a proprietary technology of Concentric AI, which employs advanced language models to understand the context and meaning behind data, providing deeper insights.
• Krishnan highlights that unlike traditional security approaches, this method offers a more nuanced, complete view of data, helping companies detect and assess risk with increased precision and control.
• Semantic intelligence enables companies to uncover sensitive data, track potential risks, and safeguard information across various data repositories and operational environments.

Concentric AI’s Series B funding round and plans for the future

• Concentric AI secured $45 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round, backed by prominent investors such as HarbourVest Partners and CyberFuture.
• Krishnan outlines plans to allocate the new funding toward expanding global sales and marketing, developing partner programs, and scaling the company’s engineering capabilities.
• Concentric AI aims to establish itself as the leading data security governance platform, providing comprehensive solutions for data discovery, monitoring, and protection in enterprise environments.

Guest: Karthik Krishnan (LinkedIn)
Company: Concentric AI 
Show: Let’s Talk

This summary was written by Emily Nicholls.