Cendio’s ThinLinc is Key in European Cybersecurity Initiative
Advancing Secure Data Sharing and Analytics in the SIESTA project
Linköping, Sweden – August 16, 2024 – Cendio’s ThinLinc has been selected as the premier tool for a new research cloud platform. The SIESTA project is a groundbreaking 36-month initiative, starting this year. It’s mission; to revolutionize secure data sharing and analytics within the European Open Science Cloud, or EOSC. Cendio, renowned for our expertise in cybersecurity and open-source software, will provide the key to success. ThinLinc ensures efficient data processing while preserving privacy. Its capacity underscores Cendio’s critical role in advancing secure scientific research.
Overview
In today’s digital landscape, robust cybersecurity is paramount. As threats become more sophisticated, organizations must innovate to stay ahead. Cendio is a long-standing expert in building and connecting high-stakes digital environments. The business is a pioneer in open-source software, with an impressive range of tools and continuous contributions to the community. Renowned for ThinLinc, a Linux Remote Desktop, Cendio enables secure and efficient access to devices, continents across. Today, we serve 500 organizations among industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.
Key Benefits of ThinLinc
Powerful Performance
Access your applications from any device, anywhere!
ThinLinc integrates seamlessly with your existing infrastructure, honoring your choice of products and services.
Full Functionality
Enjoy all the comforts of your home screen, away from home.
ThinLinc ensures a smooth transition from laptop to supercomputer, boosting your compute power and workflow efficiency.
Completely Cybersecure
Feel completely at ease from eavesdropping or cyber-attacks.
ThinLinc effectively protects against any bugs, errors, and threats through auditable code and client-side isolation.
Smooth Software
Advanced and easy to use, made possible. ThinLinc simplifies Linux environments with intuitive interfaces and centralized administration.
Employable Experts
Choose flexible support levels to match your needs. ThinLinc provides quick, clear support directly from qualified engineers.
Clear Currency
Experience honest information and clear pricing. ThinLinc offers all-inclusive features without hidden costs, complex licensing, or vendor lock-ins.
Supercomputing Science
Robert Henschel splits his time between Indiana University Bloomington and software company Cendio. “ThinLinc,” he explains, “allows you to move from your laptop to something with more memory, storage, and compute power. All done in an interface familiar to users.”
With ThinLinc as key, the SIESTA project will unlock full accessibility for scientists working with sensitive data. SIESTA stands for Secure Interactive Environments for Sensitive Data Analytics. The project brings together 12 leading organizations across Europe.
“Researchers will have access to critical data for their analyses – in a trusted cloud environment. This means enhancing research quality and outcomes. This is thanks to our collective efforts in the SIESTA project,” says Álvaro López, project coordinator and researcher at Instituto de Física de Cantabria, or IFCA.
Headed by Álvaro López, IFCA approached Cendio in late 2022. Prompting the first handshake was the institute’s successful use of ThinLinc as a research platform. “When they asked us to partner on this grant, we immediately agreed,” Henschel recalls. His prior experience with publicly funded projects across Germany and USA proved valuable. This further solidified Cendio’s involvement.
Henschel underscores the significance of supercomputing in contemporary science. “All fields of science need access to
supercomputing for highly innovative research. ThinLinc makes this transition easier for general scientists, students and research staff.
It enables a seamless shift from desktops to powerful computing environments. In addition, this democratization of supercomputing aligns with SIESTA’s goals.”
“All fields of science need access to supercomputing for highly innovative research. ThinLinc makes this
transition easier for general scientists, students and research staff. It enables a seamless shift from desktops to powerful computing environments. In addition, this democratization of supercomputing aligns with SIESTA’s goals.”
Robert Henschel | HPC Lead, Cendio
“ThinLinc uses SSH to connect your machine to the supercomputer and the cloud. The main
benefit being that it’s a known language, used by supercomputers worldwide.”
Robert Henschel | HPC Lead, Cendio
A Sense of Cybersecurity
In an era of unprecedented digital connectivity, ensuring data resilience is vital. SIESTA recognizes the importance of building robust data infrastructures to withstand cyber threats. Leveraging the expertise that Cendio brings into the project, it will set the bar high for open science solutions. The framework aligns to the FAIR principles – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable.
“SIESTA aims to develop a reliable computing platform for analyzing sensitive data. Applying stringent security measures to protect that environment. This includes medical, statistical, and corporate fields of research,” López summarizes.
ThinLinc offers unprecedented security and stability. “ThinLinc uses SSH to connect your machine to the supercomputer and the cloud. The main benefit being that it’s a known language, used by supercomputers worldwide,”
Herschel elaborates. “SSH itself is text mode only. However, ThinLinc uses it as a transport, creating a remote experience equivalent to local sessions. This means, you will have access to anything you would have on a local network. Such as audio, local printing, driver support and visual performance.”
“The idea of SIESTA is to build a secure environment within the Open Science Cloud. This environment can then conform to international or national security regulations. All in all, allowing researchers to handle sensitive datasets effectively,” Henschel adds. “All network traffic is encrypted through ThinLinc, protecting against eavesdropping and attacks.”
“We’ve seen increased targeted attacks on supercomputers to access scientific data”, he notes. “In turn, leading to a push for more security in supercomputing and IT systems in general. The goal is to protect important research infrastructures like scientific instruments, data archives, and supercomputers. The challenge in doing so, is balancing the added security with usability. This is where ThinLinc shows its true capabilities.”
The AI in SIESTA
The SIESTA project will also explore the use of emerging technologies. Generative AI can be used to enhance the speed and accuracy in data analytics and threat detection. This will enable organizations to detect and respond to cyber threats with new precision.
“Speaking of the AI context – if you have findable data, large language models can process that and make it usable. It’s like a human response to reading a recipe,” says Henschel. “AI can use the FAIR data and create something beneficial for consumers. So, adhering to the FAIR principles, effectively makes the data machine-readable. Cendio’s expertise can safeguard responsible AI deployment, so that these tools are used ethically and transparently.”
Funding and Support
Funded with €5 million from the European Union, SIESTA is set to significantly contribute to open science. The project includes 20 work packages focusing on FAIR data principles, privacy and anonymization. It will feature use cases in epidemiology, medical imaging, energy, and demography.
Looking Ahead
By integrating ThinLinc, the SIESTA project is poised to set new standards in secure data analytics. Perhaps as soon as 2026, according to the project’s ambitious goals. Henschel reflects, “ThinLinc is an enabler for this project, a means to make that happen.”
To discover how ThinLinc can enhance your organization’s cybersecurity, visit cendio.com or contact our press office.
“ThinLinc is an enabler for this project, a means to make that happen.”
Robert Henschel | HPC Lead, Cendio
ThinLinc by Cendio is pivotal in the EU-funded SIESTA project, enhancing secure data sharing within the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). This 36-month initiative unites 12 institutions across Europe to develop a secure research platform. ThinLinc ensures seamless transitions to powerful computing environments, bolstering data security and integrity. Cendio is a long-standing authority on high-stakes digital environments. The business is a pioneer in open-source software, with its impressive range of tools and continuous contributions to the community. Leveraging their expertise, the initiative will empower researchers across all fields, setting new standards in secure scientific research.
Find the full press release and press images enclosed.
FOR ALL PRESS INQUIRIES
For further information, please contact:
- Robert Henschel, HPC Lead
- Jean Zagonel, CMO
About Cendio
Founded in 1992 by Linköping University students, Cendio pioneers open-source software. Known for ThinLinc, Cendio enables global organizations to publish Linux desktops. It serves over 500 organizations daily across the industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.
This press release outlines Cendio’s role in the SIESTA project. With emphasis on its innovative approach to secure data analytics within the EOSC. It highlights the project’s objectives, use cases, consortium, and future plans.
In-depth information
Additional information about the EU-funded SIESTA project.
- Read the press release about the SIESTA project from IFCA- Institute of Physics of Cantabria here: https://ifca.unican.es/en-us/news/Paginas/SIESTA-to-analyse-sensitive-data-in-secure-computing-environments.aspx
- Watch the video on how SIESTA will analyze sensitive data in secure computing environments from IFCA CSIC-UC (In ES) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KR0MmMDKTw&t=73s