Fortress Technologies Solidifies Commitment to NSA "Suite B" Security Requirements13 June 2006
Fortress Technologies, a leader in secure wireless networking, today demonstrated its commitment to delivering "Suite B" compliant products by announcing it has licensed Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) technology from Certicom Corp. (TSX: CIC). Suite B is a set of cryptographic algorithms recommended by the National Security Agency (NSA) to provide standard, interoperable security for protecting both sensitive but unclassified (SBU) and classified information. Suite B provides a more flexible, affordable and easier-to-use alternative to heavily restricted Type 1 products currently used to meet U.S. government security requirements for classified information.
Suite B products will provide secret and top secret level security that can be used by a wider audience to meet not only the evolving communications needs of the Department of Defense (DoD), but also those of state and local governments, Coalition partners and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries. As a Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) based standard, Suite B utilizes commercial cryptographic algorithms including Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for encryption, ECC for digital signatures and key exchange, as well as hashing. Incorporating COTS algorithms instead of the highly controlled NSA algorithms used in Type 1 products makes implementation and use much more easy, flexible and affordable.
"The NSA notes that there are over a million units of high grade cryptographic equipment that need to be replaced over the next 10 years," said Janet Kumpu, President and CEO of Fortress Technologies. "The Suite B standard provides a strong security architecture and is clearly the next major step in ensuring our country's national security. As a leader in secure communications, it is important that Fortress fully embrace the Suite B standard. With the Certicom partnership, we intend to be the first to provide Suite B compliant products to the market - within the next quarter - and are aggressively working with the DoD and intelligence community to certify/accredit our Suite B solutions for rapid deployment."
Under the agreement, Fortress Technologies licensed the Certicom Security Architecture, which includes the AES for encryption and ECC-based algorithms for key agreement, as well as digital signatures required by Suite B. These algorithms will be incorporated into Fortress Technologies' FIPS 140-2 solutions to meet the requirements set forth by the NSA.
"Through Suite B, the NSA is redefining the security levels needed to protect government communications in today's environment," said Ian McKinnon, Certicom's President and CEO. "By recommending a common suite of algorithms, the NSA is promoting interoperability to help move information securely and efficiently throughout government agencies. We are pleased to be working with Fortress, a clear leader and innovator in the secure wireless arena."
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Elements of Suite B include:
- Encryption Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) - FIPS 197
- Digital Signature Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm - FIPS
186-2
- Key Exchange Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman or Elliptic Curve
MQV - Draft NIST Special Publication 800-56
- Hashing Secure Hash Algorithm - FIPS 180-2
>>
For more information about Suite B, visit: http://www.nsa.gov/ia/industry/crypto_suite_b.cfm?MenuID=10.2.7
For more information on why the NSA chose ECC, visit: http://www.nsa.gov/ia/industry/crypto_elliptic_curve.cfm?MenuID=10.2.7
About Certicom
Certicom protects the value of your content, applications and devices with government-approved security. Adopted by the National Security Agency (NSA) for classified and sensitive but unclassified government communications, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) provides the most security per bit of any known public-key scheme. As the undisputed leader in ECC, Certicom security offerings are currently licensed to more than 300 customers including General Dynamics, Motorola, Oracle, Research In Motion and Unisys. Founded in 1985, Certicom's corporate offices are in Mississauga, ON, Canada with worldwide sales headquarters in Reston, VA and offices in the US, Canada and Europe. Visit www.certicom.com.
About Fortress Technologies
Fortress Technologies provides market leading solutions that help government and commercial customers worldwide implement wireless technologies confidently, securely and simply. Rigorously tested and proven for high security assurance, Fortress' interoperable solutions protect all wireless transports including Wi-Fi (802.11), WiMAX (802.16), free space optics (FSO), Military RF and satellite. Securing over 12,000 wireless government networks, Fortress specializes in deployable networking, mobile edge applications, fixed wireless and office wireless LANs. Fortress has won numerous awards including Federal Computer Week's "10 Hot Companies to Watch," Venture Reporter's "20 Venture-backed Wireless Firms Most Likely to Succeed" and SC Magazine's "Reader's Trust Award" two years in a row.
For more information, visit www.fortresstech.com
%SEDAR: 00003865E
For further information: Chris Whalen, Fortress Technologies, (813) 288-7388, cwhalen@fortresstech.com; A.J. Guenther, ConnellyWorks, Inc., (703) 721-0541, aj@connellyworks.com
Source: newswire
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