Preparing Your Trinity Audio Player. . . Several months ago, the U. S. Navy announced its search for private-sector collaborators to commercialize PARANOID, a blockchain-based security platform developed by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). PARANOID—short for Powerful Authentication Regime Applicable to Naval OFP Integrated Development—is designed to protect software development environments and verify software integrity throughout its lifecycle. Amid increasing concerns about cyber threats and vulnerabilities in military software, the Navy sought a commercial partner to enhance and expand PARANOID’s capabilities. Shortly thereafter, Veridat secured a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Navy, becoming its strategic partner to co-develop, integrate, and commercialize the platform. “The Navy aimed to broaden adoption of their initial framework, and we were selected to do that, ” said Robert Huber, Veridat’s founder. “By signing the CRADA, we are advancing PARANOID for a wide range of civilian applications. ” Why the Navy Turned to Blockchain Security Modern military technology, including aircraft and defense systems, heavily relies on software, which opens multiple avenues for cyberattacks that can compromise critical operations. To mitigate this risk, the Navy developed PARANOID using blockchain technology to ensure software integrity by detecting any unauthorized changes throughout the development cycle. How PARANOID Secures Software PARANOID acts as an immutable security log, recording every software development action—writing, editing, compiling code, or other modifications—onto a blockchain ledger, creating a transparent and unalterable history. This provides an indestructible record that tracks who made what changes and when. Before deployment, software packages are verified against blockchain records; any unauthorized alterations trigger alerts and block installation. This system fortifies development processes against tampering, which is vital across industries but especially crucial in military contexts, where minor compromises can have grave consequences. Extending Veridat’s Reach via PARANOID Originally developed for defense, PARANOID's technology has broad commercial potential. Veridat envisions applications in sectors where authenticity and security are critical, such as luxury goods, supply chains, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Huber highlights AI security as a particularly promising field. “PARANOID could safeguard AI training workflows by maintaining secure infrastructure through accurate monitoring, ” Huber explained. “Securing AI tools against malicious intrusions sets the gold standard. ” PARANOID could address the “black box” issue in AI—the opaque nature of AI decision-making—even to its creators. An immutable and verifiable log would introduce essential transparency into AI model training and execution. Towards a New Standard of Trust In today’s interconnected digital landscape, complex operations involve multiple integrated systems, automation, and data-driven decisions, increasing exposure to cyber threats, unauthorized changes, and data manipulation. Maintaining integrity, authenticity, and security is critical to operational efficiency and trustworthiness. Without robust safeguards, organizations face financial losses, reputation damage, and regulatory risks. This reality underscores the need for a comprehensive trust standard to establish tamper-resistant, verifiable processes that secure and ensure transparency in digital workflows. Huber stresses the importance of such standards in AI, to protect model integrity within and across systems. “Our collaboration with NAWCAD seeks to develop frameworks ensuring AI models perform correctly, data remains tamper-proof, and decisions are explainable and auditable. Without these safeguards, AI could be exploited for fraud, misinformation, or other harmful acts, undermining confidence in AI-driven innovations, ” Huber stated. NAVAIR Public Release 2025-0291. Distribution A – Approved for public release; unlimited distribution. Watch: Utilizing Blockchain Technology for Data Integrity