Former Chief Executive Officer of Visa Inc., Joseph M. Saunders, steps down from his position.
In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, Joe Saunders, a seasoned veteran with 25 years of experience in national security and cybersecurity, is making waves. As the founder and CEO of RunSafe Security, Saunders is spearheading a revolution in the industry.
Saunders' mission is clear: to disrupt hacker economics by strengthening the security of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and other embedded platforms. His company, RunSafe Security, is pioneering cyberhardening technology for embedded systems and industrial control systems, a field that Saunders believes is crucial in addressing the modern risks posed to connected embedded platforms.
RunSafe Security's approach is innovative and comprehensive. The team, comprised of former U.S. government cybersecurity specialists, focuses on embedding protections at multiple levels of the software stack. They achieve this by building Android-based infotainment systems from source, allowing Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers to insert crucial security protections during the OS build process.
The company also automates vulnerability identification and risk quantification, scanning software at build-time and runtime to provide actionable insights for risk reduction. RunSafe Security deploys runtime code protections, including memory relocation and runtime exploit prevention, to defend embedded code against exploitation.
Moreover, RunSafe Security maintains comprehensive software bills of materials (SBOMs) to ensure visibility into all third-party and open-source components, a vital aspect of managing vulnerabilities and securing the software supply chain. They enforce strong network segmentation between infotainment, telematics, and safety-critical domains such as Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and electronic control units to prevent lateral movement after a breach.
Lastly, RunSafe Security embeds secure development practices like threat modeling, fuzz testing, and static code analysis into the software development lifecycle for automotive code, thereby enhancing security from design onwards.
Joe Saunders' contributions to cybersecurity extend beyond RunSafe Security. He has advised and supported multiple security companies, including Kaprica Security, Sovereign Intelligence, Distil Networks, and Analyze Corp. Saunders is also the founder of Children's Voice International, a non-profit organization aiding displaced, abandoned, and trafficked children.
In essence, Saunders is transforming the field of cybersecurity by challenging outdated assumptions and advancing cyberhardening techniques for embedded and industrial control systems, particularly within the automotive domain. His approach integrates security deeply into product development and operational use, offering a promising solution to the growing cybersecurity challenges faced by the world today.
Embedded systems are targeted in RunSafe Security's mission to disrupt hacker economics, as they develop cyberhardening technology for better protection. Saunders' company focuses on embedding protections at varying software levels, using innovative techniques like automating vulnerability identification and enforcing secure development practices in the automotive domain.
