What is your name, title, and role at your company?

 

My name is Mark Nichols.  I am Founder and President of Spanalytics.  I run the company and try to stay technically involved.

 

What does your company do?

 

We are Subject Matter Experts on the Internet of Things protocol space with a focus on cyber security.  Think Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, Thread, Zigbee, LoRa and other WLAN/WPAN protocols.  This work has included vulnerability research along with embedded, firmware, middle-ware, and host software development.  We also offer training and security auditing services.  We have recently launched a commercial product line to perform wireless traffic capture and analysis of IoT networks.

 

What are some neat projects that your company is currently working on?

 

We have a few we are currently working on:

SPIoT: a system to automatically test the security of an IoT device’s wireless interface

WiLabs: a learning system that includes labs with access to our library of IoT devices along with our packet analysis hardware and software

PANalyzr: a state of the art, portable, wide-band wireless protocol packet sniffer and analysis tool

 

How would you describe your company’s culture?

 

Family!  We are very flexible with schedules and so on, pay full medical and dental, generous leave, and unlimited snacks and coffee!

 

How does your company differentiate itself from your competitors?

 

In my humble opinion, no one knows wireless IoT protocols like we do.  We have many years of working in this space.  And we try to do work that complements our expertise, like training, software development, and cyber security research.

 

If you could see anyone in concert, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

 

Yikes, I haven’t been to a concert in forever.  And I might be too old for some of the bands I’m thinking of.  So, Thievery Corporation, but in a small venue where I can sit at a table with a nice Bourbon or Scotch.

 

Is there anything additional you would like to share about your company?

 

We are a small company and like to make connections.  We also like proselytizing STEM to whoever will listen to us!