WESTON, Fla., 3 May 2005. Thales today announced the formation of a Secure Wireless Alliance Program (SWAP).
This new program is designed to provide the U.S. federal government with solutions to meet the new Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 8100.2. This mandate requires that all unclassified wireless transmission must be encrypted with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 Level 2 certified hardware using the AES encryption algorithm.
As wireless deployments explode throughout the federal government, the need for security has never been greater. The new Secure Wireless Alliance Program will bring together the leading wireless manufacturers and Thales' world-class cryptographic expertise to validate interoperability between wireless transmission equipment and DODD 8100.2 encryption solutions for both robust tactical and fixed wireless deployments.
"We continue to see strong demand within the DoD agencies for our Datacryptor product line, and as our customers deploy wireless WAN solutions, we are ensuring the security of the network with our Datacryptor product line," said Cindy Provin, president of the e-Security activities of Thales in the Americas.
The Thales Datacryptor product line ranges from 10Mb layer 2 solutions to SONET OC-48 layer 2 solutions. Layer 2 solutions are ideal for the point-to-point nature of wireless WAN links. The Datacryptor product line also encompasses 10mb, 100mb, and Gigabit Layer 3 IP solutions. The Datacryptor product line addresses the bulk of the current wireless WAN deployments, which are under 100mbs, and the upcoming high-speed wireless WAN's, which operate at gigabit speeds and higher.
Alok Sharma, vice president of sales and marketing for e-Security activities of Thales in the Americas, commented: "We are interoperating with the leading wireless vendors in the federal government and will jointly certify the secure wireless solutions."
With over 70,000 units already installed, the Datacryptor product family is already deployed in many wireless and wireline WAN applications within the federal government including DISA.
The Datacryptor range of hardware encryptors provides strong FIPS 140-2 certified security at Layer 2 and Layer 3 applications including leased line Link, Frame Relay, SONET, IP networks, and Ethernet. With AES (128, 192, 256-bit) and 3DES (168-bit) algorithms built in, the Datacryptor family is designed to fulfill the requirements dictated by the new Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 8100.2.
Thales is an international electronics and systems group, serving defense, aerospace, security and services markets. The group employs 61,500 people and generated revenues of $13 billion in 2004.
Recent contract awards include the military's multi-million dollar Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program award; and an award from the Defense Information System Agency (DISA) for data encryption products.
Operating in three main markets covering e-security, card payment, and network security, Thales' e-Security activity addresses the business, government, and finance industries' need for cryptographic security products and solutions. Over half of the world's banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges, currently use Thales technology. For more information, see www.thalesesec.com.
