South Carolina Forges Cyber Shield with AI Tech Firm Partnership

COLUMBIA, SC – April 01, 2026 – In a significant move to bolster statewide defenses against an evolving landscape of digital threats, South Carolina is pioneering a new collaborative model that fuses private sector innovation with public sector intelligence. Integer Technologies, a Columbia-based leader in adaptive artificial intelligence (AI) defense systems, has formalized a strategic partnership with the South Carolina Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (SC CIC) Program, a state-led initiative dedicated to protecting the essential services residents rely on daily.

This partnership, cemented through a Memorandum of Agreement, integrates Integer into a powerful, multi-agency task force. The collaboration aims to create a more resilient and proactive defense network for the state's 16 critical infrastructure sectors, which include everything from energy and water systems to healthcare and transportation.

A New Blueprint for Public-Private Defense

The SC CIC Program represents a modern approach to state-level cybersecurity. Sponsored by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and officially launched in 2020 after its initial establishment in 2017, the program operates as a unified command center for cyber defense. It brings together a formidable coalition of state and federal partners, including the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the South Carolina National Guard.

The program's core mission is to provide no-cost, high-impact cybersecurity services, curated threat intelligence, and coordinated incident response to critical organizations. Its success is reflected in its rapid growth, expanding from 99 participating organizations in its first year to over 326 by 2025, representing 15 of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors. This growth underscores the urgent need for a centralized defense hub. In 2025 alone, the SC CIC responded to 85 significant cyber incidents, with government facilities being the most frequent target.

“The defense of our critical infrastructure cannot exist in silos because adversaries do not respect the boundaries between public and private networks,” said Duke Hartman, Integer co-founder and chief executive officer. “Securing our vital systems requires the agility and innovation of private industry fused with the intelligence and reach of state and federal agencies. This partnership...is a blueprint for how we must operationalize that public-private synergy to stay ahead of sophisticated threats.”

The Power of AI in Securing Critical Systems

At the heart of this partnership is Integer Technologies' expertise in what it calls “cyber-physical resilience.” This goes beyond traditional IT security, which focuses on protecting data, to safeguard the physical systems controlled by computer networks. These are the systems that manage power distribution, operate water treatment facilities, and ensure transportation networks run smoothly. A successful attack on these cyber-physical systems could have immediate and devastating real-world consequences.

Integer’s adaptive AI defense technologies are designed to transform vast streams of raw data into actionable intelligence, allowing for the prediction and prevention of attacks. By integrating these advanced monitoring, anomaly detection, and automated response capabilities into the state's defense framework, the partnership aims to move from a reactive to a proactive posture.

“Cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure demand unprecedented collaboration between the public and private sectors,” said Scott Thompson, cyber engineering manager at Integer. “Our partnership with the SC CIC Program sets a new standard for operational readiness. By integrating seamlessly with state and federal experts, we are delivering the proactive innovation and intelligence sharing required to protect the systems South Carolina’s citizens and economy rely on.”

From Campus to Statewide Protector: A Local Innovation Story

The partnership also marks a significant milestone for Integer Technologies, a company that has seen a meteoric rise since its founding in Columbia in 2021. Its rapid ascent, recognized by its inclusion on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, is deeply intertwined with the state's academic and economic ecosystem.

A foundational and expanding partnership with the University of South Carolina, particularly its Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, has been instrumental to the company's success. This collaboration has created a powerful synergy, fueling Integer’s innovation with cutting-edge academic research while providing students with real-world experience. This relationship not only powers Integer's technological development but also helps build a robust local talent pipeline, encouraging skilled graduates to remain in South Carolina and contribute to its growing technology sector.

Now, as an early participant in the Defense Industrial Base sector of the SC CIC program, Integer is leveraging its homegrown expertise to protect the entire state, transitioning from a promising startup to a key guardian of South Carolina's security and economic stability.

Operationalizing a Unified Cyber Front

The agreement outlines a clear operational structure for this enhanced collaboration. Integer will designate a dedicated Cyber Liaison Officer (CLO), joining a network of over 600 CLOs across the state. This officer will serve as the primary conduit for real-time, two-way information sharing, feeding critical threat data into the SC CIC network and receiving curated intelligence from state and federal partners.

This flow of information is governed by established legal frameworks, including the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act and the federal Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA), which provide for the secure and confidential exchange of threat data. The goal is to build a trusted ecosystem where sensitive information can be shared to mount a collective defense without compromising proprietary data or privacy.

By joining the program, Integer not only contributes its AI capabilities but also gains access to the SC CIC's suite of proactive services, including readiness exercises, phishing awareness campaigns, and vulnerability assessments. This continuous cycle of testing, sharing, and improving is fundamental to building a defense that can withstand the sophisticated and persistent attacks launched by modern adversaries. This public-private fusion represents a critical evolution in the strategy to protect the essential services that underpin modern society.