Announcing the launch of CHERI Alliance: A unified front against digital threats

By Ron Black, Codasip

November 12, 2024

In an era where cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the formation of a new alliance dedicated to cybersecurity is not just timely but essential. Today marks the formal launch of CHERI Alliance, which brings together industry leaders—including Google, the University of Cambridge, the UKs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Codasip—united in their mission to enhance cybersecurity measures and foster collaboration across the sector.

Read the launch press release.

Addressing an urgent need

The need for a robust cybersecurity framework has never been more pressing. Global cybercrime is comparable to being the third biggest economy in the world and is projected to grow to $20 trillion in 2026! As businesses and individuals rely more on digital platforms, the risks associated with cyberattacks—ranging from data breaches to ransomware—have escalated dramatically. Recognizing this urgent need, the member organizations have come together to create a platform that not only shares knowledge and resources but also puts proven methods in place to combat these threats effectively.

The range of founding member organizations across industry, academia and government bring unique strengths and expertise to the Alliance.

Codasip has been a driving force in the creation of the Alliance. We saw the potential in the ground-breaking CHERI technology developed at the University of Cambridge for a decade but only implemented in prototypes. We realized we had the skills and tools needed to make it happen in a commercially licensable core. Indeed, thanks to our Custom Compute design methodology, we could make it happen in less than a year and announced the availability of the first core last year. To further speed up the adoption of CHERI, we have donated our newly developed Linux-capable SDK to the alliance, for open access to anyone implementing CHERI on RISC-V.

To learn about all the 21(!) founding member organizations, visit the CHERI Alliance website.

Hitting the ground running

The CHERI Alliance aims to create a collaborative environment where knowledge sharing and joint initiatives can flourish. By pooling their resources, member organizations will be better equipped to tackle emerging threats and create a stronger cybersecurity posture for all of us. The alliance will also host regular gatherings to engage industry experts and stakeholders, fostering an ongoing dialogue about the latest trends and challenges in cybersecurity. On this day of the formal launch of the alliance, 120 stakeholders are taking part in the first conference co-hosted by the CHERI Alliance, CyNam and NCSC in Cheltenham, UK.

With government support, commercial implementations, and leading research teams united, CHERI adoption will progress quickly. If you are ready to make your product memory safe and stay ahead of pending legislation, get in touch with us today.