JFrog and Qwak Create Secure MLOps Workflows for Accelerating the Delivery of AI Apps at Scale
- The integration between JFrog and Qwak aims to streamline and secure ML applications delivery.
- JFrog's Platform combined with Qwak provides a MLSecOps solution for AI application development.
- The collaboration facilitates faster and more secure deployment of ML models alongside traditional software components.
- The integration offers a centralized platform for ML model deployment, enhancing visibility, governance, and security.
- The partnership addresses the challenges of scaling MLOps capabilities and optimizing the ML process.
- JFrog and Qwak's integration aims to automate ML artifacts and releases in a secure manner, similar to managing the software supply chain.
- The JFrog Security Research team discovered malicious ML Models in Hugging Face, emphasizing the importance of secure MLOps processes.
- The collaboration between JFrog and Qwak provides a solution for automating ML artifacts and releases efficiently.
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From a cybersecurity perspective, the integration of JFrog and Qwak addresses a critical challenge in the burgeoning field of machine learning operations (MLOps). As organizations increasingly incorporate ML models into their software ecosystems, the risk of vulnerabilities within these models also escalates. The centralized ML Model registry and MLOps platform can mitigate these risks by providing enhanced visibility, governance and security features.
The discovery of malicious ML models in Hugging Face by the JFrog Security Research team underscores the necessity of such security measures. These models, if left unchecked, could serve as vehicles for data breaches or system compromises. By offering a unified system that includes both ML and traditional software components, JFrog and Qwak's solution could significantly reduce the attack surface for organizations, thereby strengthening their overall security posture.
As an ML engineer, the announcement of a streamlined MLOps workflow is particularly noteworthy. The integration of JFrog Artifactory and Xray with Qwak’s ML Platform could potentially revolutionize the way ML models are developed and deployed. By unifying ML models with the broader software development lifecycle, this collaboration promises to alleviate the pain points typically associated with ML model development, such as version control, reproducibility and regulatory compliance.
The ability to automate ML artifact creation and release, as well as providing a documented chain of provenance, addresses the complexity and cost challenges identified by IDC research. This could lead to a more efficient deployment of ML applications, enabling organizations to leverage AI/ML technologies more effectively and at a larger scale.
For investors and stakeholders, the strategic partnership between JFrog and Qwak could signify an opportunity for growth and a competitive edge in the MLOps market. By offering a comprehensive MLSecOps solution, JFrog is positioning itself as a leader in a niche yet rapidly expanding segment of the software industry. This move may attract new customers seeking to streamline their ML operations, potentially leading to increased revenue streams for JFrog.
Moreover, the emphasis on security and compliance is likely to resonate with enterprises in regulated industries, where adherence to stringent guidelines is mandatory. The ability to offer a secure and compliant ML deployment platform could open up additional markets for JFrog, thereby diversifying its customer base and providing a buffer against market volatility.
New native integration empowers organizations to deliver ML applications efficiently with end-to-end software supply chain visibility, governance, and security
JFrog and Qwak Create Secure MLOps Workflows (Graphic: Business Wire)
“Currently, data scientists and ML engineers are using a myriad of disparate tools, which are mostly disconnected from standard DevOps processes within the organization, to mature models to release. This slows MLOps processes down, compromises security, and increases the cost of building AI powered applications, ” said Gal Marder, Executive Vice President of Strategy, JFrog. “The combination of the JFrog Platform – with Artifactory and Xray at its core - plus Qwak provides users with a complete MLSecOps solution that brings ML models in line with other software development processes, creating a single source of truth for all software components across Engineering, MLOps, DevOps and DevSecOps teams so they can build and release AI applications faster, with minimal risk and less cost.”
Uniting JFrog Artifactory and Xray with Qwak’s ML Platform brings ML apps alongside all other software development components in a modern DevSecOps and MLOps workflow, enabling data scientists, ML engineers, Developers, Security, and DevOps teams to easily build ML apps quickly, securely, and in compliance with all regulatory guidelines. The native Artifactory integration connects JFrog’s universal ML Model registry with a centralized MLOps platform so users can easily build, train, and deploy models with greater visibility, governance, versioning, and security. Using a centralized platform for ML model deployment also allows users to focus less on infrastructure and more on their core data science tasks.
IDC research indicates that while AI/ML adoption is on the rise, the cost of implementing and training models, shortage of trained talent, and absence of solidified software development life-cycle processes for AI/ML are among the top three inhibitors to realizing the full benefits of AI/ML at scale.[1]
"Building ML pipelines can be complicated, time-consuming, and costly to organizations looking to scale their MLOps capabilities. These homegrown solutions are not equipped to manage and protect the process of building, training, and tuning ML models at scale with little to no audibility," said Jim Mercer, Program Vice President Software Development, DevOps, and DevSecOps. "Having a single system of record that can help automate the development, providing a documented chain of provenance, and security of ML models alongside all other software components offers a compelling alternative for optimizing the ML process while injecting more model security and compliance.”
Without the right infrastructure, platform and processes needed for ML operations (MLOps), it’s challenging to build, manage, and scale complex ML infrastructure, deploy models quickly, and secure them without incurring excessive costs. Companies often struggle to manage infrastructure complexity causing expensive and time-consuming authentication and security protocols between various development environments.
“AI and ML have recently transformed from being a distant future prospect to a ubiquitous reality. Building ML models is a complex and time-intensive process, which is why many data scientists are still struggling to turn their ideas into production-ready models,” said Alon Lev, CEO, Qwak. “While there are plenty of open source tools on the market, putting all of those together to build a comprehensive ML pipeline isn’t easy, which is why we’re thrilled to work with JFrog on a solution for automating ML artifacts and releases in the same, secure way customers manage their software supply chain with JFrog Artifactory and Xray.”
Proof of why having secure, end-to-end MLOps processes is imperative was further confirmed by the JFrog Security Research team in their discovery of malicious ML Models in Hugging Face, a widely used AI model repository. Their research found that several malicious ML Models housed in Hugging Face posed the threat of code execution by threat actors, which could lead to data breaches, system compromise, or other malicious actions.
For a deeper look at the integration between the JFrog Platform and Qwak and how it works, read this blog or view this video. You can also register to join JFrog and Qwak for an informative webinar detailing best practices for introducing model use and development into secure software supply chain and development processes, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 9 a.m. PST/5 p.m. UTC.
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About JFrog
JFrog Ltd. (Nasdaq: FROG) is on a mission to create a world of software delivered without friction from developer to device. Driven by a “Liquid Software” vision, the JFrog Software Supply Chain Platform is a single system of record that powers organizations to build, manage, and distribute software quickly and securely, ensuring it is available, traceable, and tamper-proof. The integrated security features also help identify, protect, and remediate against threats and vulnerabilities. JFrog’s hybrid, universal, multi-cloud platform is available as both self-hosted and SaaS services across major cloud service providers. Millions of users and 7K+ customers worldwide, including a majority of the Fortune 100, depend on JFrog solutions to securely embrace digital transformation. Once you leap forward, you won’t go back! Learn more at jfrog.com and follow us on Twitter: @jfrog.
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[1] “Machine Learning Life-Cycle Tools and Technologies,” by Kathy Lange, Research Director, AI Software https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=IDC_P40729
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240228384095/en/
Media Contact:
Siobhan Lyons, Sr. MarComm Manager, JFrog, siobhanL@jfrog.com
Investor Contact:
Jeff Schreiner, VP of Investor Relations, jeffS@jfrog.com
Source: JFrog Ltd.
