Plug-and-play security: Licensing cyber security tech for a global market
Plug-and-play security: Licensing cyber security tech for a global market
Publish Date: 2026-05-21 10:46:00
Source Domain: www.openaccessgovernment.org
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.
image: ©sankai | iStock
A plug-and-play cybersecurity device developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has been licensed to a UK firm for global commercial use
The technology, known as SilentGlass, was commercialised with support from the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT) to protect connected devices from emerging video connection vulnerabilities.
The NCSC, which is a part of GCHQ, serves as the UK’s National Technical Authority on cyber security, working to combat threats and protect the digital technologies underpinning the UK economy and public services.
Addressing vulnerabilities in smart monitors
As modern computer monitors become increasingly advanced, their digital video connections can be exploited by bad actors to compromise laptops and other connected devices. This security risk is particularly acute in environments where devices of differing trust levels connect to shared monitors. These settings include secure government facilities, hybrid office spaces, and home working arrangements.
SilentGlass was developed within the NCSC to address this specific challenge. It provides a simple, effective hardware solution to prevent video connections from being used as a route for cyber attacks.
The plug-and-play hardware solution
SilentGlass is a small, plug-and-play security hardware device that sits directly between a laptop and a monitor. By blocking the physical connection from being used as an attack pathway, it prevents either connected device from being compromised. This capability allows organisations to improve their overall cybersecurity baseline while supporting safer, more flexible working and hot-desking arrangements.
While originally engineered for internal government operations, the technology demonstrated clear potential for wider adoption across the public sector, critical national infrastructure, and the private sector. To bring the product to market while maintaining strict governance and security standards, the NCSC pursued a licensing-based commercialisation route.
The device is designed to support organisations requiring high-assurance protections, including:
Government departments and public sector bodies
Organisations operating critical national infrastructure
Businesses with stringent cybersecurity requirements
Employers enabling flexible and hybrid working models
The role of GOTT in commercialisation
The Government Office for Technology Transfer supported the NCSC in shaping the commercial strategy for the device. GOTT provided advice on intellectual property licensing strategies, supplied funding and mentoring for a local Knowledge Asset manager, and facilitated access to the wider tech transfer ecosystem. This ecosystem included connections to specialists in public sector investment and licence management.
This collaborative framework helped the NCSC navigate the market engagement process and secure an appropriate industry partner through a fair and competitive selection system.
Global market outcome
Following the competitive process, a global intellectual property licence for SilentGlass was agreed with a UK-based company, making the device available on the global market. The agreement marks a new approach for the technical authority, demonstrating how government-developed capabilities can be commercialised to support wider security adoption while protecting intellectual property and ensuring public benefit.
NCSC Chief Technology Officer Ollie Whitehouse noted that GOTT’s expertise in encouraging government departments to seek greater value from their intellectual property was instrumental in the confidence to commercialise the device. Moving forward, the organisations will continue working together to commercialise more unique intellectual property to support their security mission and UK economic prosperity.
