About Valence Vector Labs

We relentlessly attack security-hardened, hardware targets to extract data reliably and consistently from UAVs, vehicles, IoT and other platforms and systems. Our hardware penetration techniques and systems establish our position as the sole source of high demand exploitation services and processes critical to our government customers in their mission to assure our national security.

Our proprietary data extraction techniques are enabled by sophisticated tools that target data discretely located at all levels from the system down to the semiconductor die. Our Team achieves success as minimally invasive as possible. When necessary, we make use of cutting-edge, precision automated submicron imaging capabilities to enable directed energy tools that overwhelm the most complicated challenges. We use the right tools for the right job.

CASE: Valence Vector Labs continuously researches and develops the most minimally intrusive exploitation methods to include non-powered or “dead box” ISP forensic techniques to extract data from internal memory components. Valence Vector Labs personnel rapidly deployed to conduct a field examination of a GPS module connected to an investigation into the murder of a Federal Officer. The module had been struck by gunfire resulting in a bullet hole penetration through the main circuit board. Despite being heavily damaged, our experts were able to assist investigators by employing dead box forensic techniques to recover relevant and valuable data from the GPS module.

We have long understood the value of providing our customers with the highest quality technical training and support. Our subject matter experts develop and deliver curricula and customized training plans that include hands-on technical skill building to safely and effectively exploit wide-ranging embedded devices to include uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), remote vehicles, mobile phones, computers, IoTs, and vehicle ECUs.

Our deployable subject matter experts provide formal instruction and technical skill building that is tailored to ensure field operators with varied less mature capabilities successful outcomes. Whether its rapid, remote locale exploitation techniques, covert extraction techniques or advanced laboratory-based training on semiconductor decapsulation and laser fault injection - Valence Vector Labs will meet your training needs.

Our experts have vast experience in the design and development of laboratory buildouts and closely supervise their construction ensuring: specialized laboratory equipment retrofitting; and adherence with proper Power, Thermal, Humidity, and Acoustic requirements. Whether supporting customers with the development of a completely new facility, or the retrofitting of an existing forensic exploitation laboratory, we provide laboratory design recommendations and equipment, instrumentation, and supporting peripheral options and specifications to meet all customer requirements.

CASE:

When a Valence Vector Labs government customer solicited support to relocate its fully equipped forensic laboratory across the country, we met the challenge. Our team was tasked with conducting a site assessment to establish retrofit standards that would support the relocation. This included the redesign and modification of the space to support the installation of highly sensitive, corrosive, and precise equipment. The project was complicated by the fact that the customer would be a non-DoD tenant relocating to a DoD reservation that is governed by numerous rigorous and stringent compliance regulations. Once the new site requirements and capabilities were addressed, many millions of dollars of highly sensitive equipment was transported to the new location, under escort, and installed by Valence Vector Labs personnel. Since 2017, this state of the art, US government forensics laboratory has been in operation without exception.

We are called upon to conduct hardware assessments to fulfill customer evaluation requirements. These research assessments are for customers who seek to Identify and overcome embedded security features, validate component authenticity in support of supply chain investigations and assess vulnerabilities across multiple platforms.

Valence Vector Labs vulnerability testing relies on proprietary exploitation techniques supplemented by advanced capabilities not normally available at traditional digital forensic laboratories. Our mechanical engineering team, supported by state-of-the-art additive manufacturing tools and a sophisticated machine shop ensure rapid prototyping and replication of targeted devices.

Our engineers hold patents in thermal management and the design of novel methods in semiconductor probing, diagnosis, and failure analysis. When combined with our onsite high-resolution imaging capabilities and subject matter expertise in forensic chemistry, elemental analysis and DART mass spectroscopy - Valence Vector Labs is truly a “One-Stop-Shop.”

CASE: Valence Vector Lab’s US Government customers routinely request our examination of never-before-seen UAS and embedded hardware componentry. One such request to evaluate a never-before-seen uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) in support of a multi-government agency collaboration was received. Initial inspection revealed that previous attempts to access and extract data from the UUV were unsuccessful, resulting in the destruction of multiple traces between onboard microcontrollers and data exploitation pins. The VVL Team repaired the significantly damaged printed circuit board leading to the successful extraction of the microcontroller’s flash memory. This is one of many examples of how our experts overcome obstacles and get the job done.