Israeli Startup Raises Close to $5M To Protect Train, Metro Systems From Cyber Attacks

January 28, 2018 | Cylus, an Israeli startup focused on developing technology to protect railway and metro systems from cyber attacks, has raised close to $5 million in a seed funding round led by Vertex Ventures, in collaboration with Magma Venture Capital, the company said. Cylus was founded just last year by veterans of the IDF Intelligence Corps’ elite technological intelligence and security units, and a former CEO of Israel Railways, Boaz Zafrir, now president of Cylus, as well as Zohar Zisapel, a high-profile Israeli entrepreneur and chairman of the RAD Group, who is also invested in Israeli car sensor company Innoviz Technologies, which develops technologies for autonomous driving and was an early investor in Argus Cyber Security, acquired by German auto giant Continental in November for over $400 million. “Train attacks are no longer science fiction,”  Zisapel said in a statement. “Trains, passengers and critical railway infrastructure are undoubtedly high-quality targets for hackers. Cylus is laser-focused on protecting railway systems while enabling customers to swiftly adapt new technologies to reduce the risk to the public.” Zafrir said, “Railway companies cannot compromise on passenger safety, and one of the pillars of passenger safety is cybersecurity. Railway executives are acutely aware of the dangers and are looking for answers. The extraordinary team at Cylus has rich experience creating effective cybersecurity solutions, and I am confident that the company’s unique technology will help keep passengers safe all over the world.” Cylus CEO Amir Levintal said, “Our team of world-class cyber specialists together with rail industry experts have tailored a solution to the industry’s unique requirements. Our solution enables rail companies to detect cyber-attacks in their operational network, including their signaling systems and rolling stocks, and block attackers before they can cause any damage. The automotive industry has woken up to the critical need for cyber protection – it’s time the railway industry got on board as well.”