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
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…
