Meet the Acorn
About the FireOak Acorn
Developed in the FireOak Tech Lab by the FireOak team
Meet the Acorn
What is the Acorn?
In many of our information security and knowledge management engagements, we use a device we refer to as the FireOak Acorn. We use a combination of open source technologies, custom software, and 3D-printed components.
When was the Acorn first developed?
The original Acorn was developed by the FireOak team in 2016 as a way to remotely conduct vulnerability assessments and other types of information security diagnostic tests. Over the years, we’ve iterated and refined these devices, incorporating new technologies and software as they have become available, and expanding the ways in which we use these devices as our work evolves.
Today's Acorns
We continue to use Acorns as part of our information security and knowledge management work. Depending on the nature of an engagement, we might install Acorns on-site to collect and analyze data over the course of a few weeks or a few months.
All client data collected by the Acorns is encrypted on-disk with AES 256-bit encryption using a unique key assigned to that particular client.
These devices are quite small and don’t interfere with network activity when running on-site in a client’s data center.
Acorns Around the World
At any given time, several Acorns are deployed on-site at clients’ offices around the world. Our Acorn Fleet Map serves as a dashboard for us to check the health of all of deployed Acorns.
In the photos below, two FireOak Acorns were undergoing final quality assurance testing before being sent to client sites in Asia and Africa. Once the Acorns pass their final QA testing, we pack them up and send them to clients. Acorns are designed to withstand the rigors of travel, and they’re easy for clients to plug-in and get up and running with minimal effort on their end.
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Reach out to schedule a time to talk. After we understand what you hope to accomplish and what problems you’re trying to solve, we’ll put together a custom proposal and work with you to get started on your consulting engagement.
