Seattle big data startup Context Relevant has struck a partnership with Richard Clarke’s cybersecurity consulting firm Good Harbor Security Risk Management. As part of the deal, Clarke, the former counterterrorism chief in the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, is joining the company’s advisory board.
“Cybersecurity is both a national security and an economic challenge that the U.S., its allies, governments and companies face today,” said Clarke in a press release. “One of the greatest obstacles to conquering cybersecurity is the challenge of analyzing the enormous amount of data that is required to adequately combat specific threats. That’s where Context Relevant and its highly credentialed team of experts in data science come into play. Their technology will be a force multiplier to help organizations avoid massive data security issues.”
Context Relevant is a developer of big data analytics software, helping companies and organizations better utilize data to solve issues or boost profits. It is led by Stephen Purpura, an expert in artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive analytics and a Ph.D. candidate in information sciences at Cornell University.
The company raised raised $7 million last summer from Madrona Venture Group, Bloomberg Beta, Paul Allen’s Vulcan and Seattle angel investor Geoff Entress.
Context Relevant and Good Harbor plan to work together to address security breaches, possible compliance violations, cross-border data residency laws, and other threats that could be identified through massive data analysis. The alliance comes amid high-profile security breaches at national retailers, as well increases in cyber attacks and data breaches.
“If you put that in terms of security breaches, time is money – and lots of it,” said Stephen Purpura, CEO and co-founder of Context Relevant. “We have the technology, and with the addition of Richard Clarke to our Advisory Board and our partnership with Good Harbor, we now have the cybersecurity expertise to offer clients comprehensive solutions. We’re thrilled to work with Clarke and to tap into his vast knowledge.”
