Capital–area cybersecurity firm to move to Rome’s Innovare Center

ROME, N.Y. — A Troy-based cybersecurity startup will establish its software development and operations headquarters at the Innovare Advancement Center in Rome and join the Griffiss Institute’s incubator. The Innovare Center offers an innovation ecosystem designed to accelerate breakthroughs in national security, defense technology, and advanced cybersecurity. “By relocating to Innovare and partnering with Griffiss Institute, we’re positioning ourselves in a dynamic ecosystem that’s committed to cybersecurity, innovation, and national defense,” Geoff Halstead, co-founder and chief product officer of Faction Networks, said in an announcement on the company’s move to Rome. “This opportunity allows us to collaborate with forward-thinking partners and contribute to the region’s momentum in defense technology and economic development.” Faction Networks classifies itself as a disruptive innovator in cybersecurity solutions. It builds platforms, apps, and tools that enable everyday users and small to mid-sized organizations to achieve zero-trust security and privacy for networking, devices, communications, and data. The move reflects the company’s long-term commitment to upstate New York and the Mohawk Valley’s growing reputation as a hub for emerging research, technology transition, and start-up growth, company officials said. They expect Faction Networks to benefit from the close proximity to the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate and a network of trusted collaborators that are advancing mission-critical solutions in cyber assurance and resilient infrastructure. Faction Networks plans to work alongside key regional partners including Assured Information Security (AIS) and Marq4 Automation to address critical and often-overlooked challenges in the cybersecurity landscape including the presence of intentional vulnerabilities embedded in routing hardware and smart electronics “If you can’t trust the hardware, then all of your cybersecurity software is worthless,” Faction Networks CEO/CTO and Co-Founder Dave Rand said. “Over 90 percent of routers and smart devices today are manufactured in regions with known vulnerabilities. At Faction, when we say ‘zero trust,’ we mean all the way down to the firmware, the hardware, and the microchips. That’s the foundation we’re building from right here in Rome.” Through its partnership with the Griffiss Institute, Faction Networks will have access to specialized laboratories, a community of researchers and entrepreneurs, and tailored support to help scale high-impact technology ventures. The Griffiss Institute is a nonprofit talent and technology accelerator for the U.S. Department of Defense and is an international network of academic, government, and industry partners. The Innovare Advancement Center is an open innovation hub managed by the Griffiss Institute.