Defense Technology International - May 2008 - (Page 43)

THE NET DAVID WALSH CROSS-SECTOR DIAL-UP device, the company stresses, has all the functionality of an encryptorMilitary and civil communications secure calls to be made with exist- equipped laptop for classiﬁed infortechnologies advance at different ing SCIP-compatible devices. It also mation, a smartphone/wireless PDA rates, since the tasks served usu- implements High-Assurance Internet for unclassiﬁed information and a ally differ. But even with increasing Protocol Encryptor Interoperability secure cell phone for classiﬁed and cross-sector convergence of mis- Speciﬁcation to provide secure con- unclassiﬁed calls. The Sectera Edge also synchrosions—for example, stability oper- nectivity with classiﬁed networks, ations and disaster-relief—commu- including the Taclane family of net- nizes information with a user’s computer. That means access to nications links have been anything work encryptors. In October 2007, the NSA awarded calendar, address book, calculator, but interoperable. This may be changing. A unique, a contract to General Dynamics C4 notepad and other PDA functions. cross-sector solution, says General Systems enabling military and gov- The smartphone also provides: seDynamics, is its wireless Sectera ernment users to order the Sectera cure access to classiﬁed networks, Edge smartphone. Soldiers equipped Edge . It is available to Defense e-mail and web-browsing via high-speed, four-band GSM or with it can link to defense conworldwide cellular networks; tractors, civilian agencies, police software that’s upgradeable to and ﬁrst-responder units. VoIP and IPv6; and worldwide “The Sectera Edge is the only roaming through Wi-Fi, Global National Security Agency-cerSystem for Mobile Communitified smartphone to provide cations and Code Division Mulsecure wireless access to clastiple Access networks. siﬁed e-mail and web sites on The device has the Defense the government’s [Secret InterDept.’s PKI-enabled Common net Protocol Router Network],” Access Card support, meets its says John Cole, vice president 8100.2 requirements and perof information assurance at mits Type 1 encrypted storage General Dynamics C4 Systems. of classiﬁed data. It can be used What’s more, the smartphone inside closed areas with “Secret “can be used for classiﬁed and Compartmented Information unclassiﬁed calls,” he notes. Facility-Friendly” mode, GenThe device serves as a bridge eral Dynamics says. In addition, between military and homeBlackberry S/Mime users can exland security communications change secure e-mail with govby providing access to the government personnel. ernment’s unclassiﬁed but sen- Sectera Edge smartphone from General All this capability in a small sitive Internet Protocol Router Dynamics makes classiﬁed calls and conNetwork , known as Niprnet . nects to top-secret networks. package needs protecting, es“With a single keystroke, users pecially in crisis or war zones. can switch between classiﬁed and Dept., Homeland Security Dept. and “The Sectera Edge is designed to other government personnel. unclassiﬁed data,” Cole says. meet Military Standard 810F speciThe smartphone reduces confusion ﬁcations for drop (4 ft. to concrete), Previously, “a user in the field could use a secure cell phone such as in critical situations where communi- shock, vibration, operating and [General Dynamics’] Sectera SGSM cations have been a hash of secure storage temperature, temperature to make and receive classiﬁed calls,” and non-secure capabilities. Now, shock, water resistance, dust, huhe says. “However, to connect to onsite brass, federal management midity and altitude,” Cole says. the [Secret Internet Protocol Router ofﬁcials, local police ofﬁcers and NaCole maintains that the smartNetwork], the user would need ac- tional Guard personnel can all be on phone is both a transformational cess to a computer running on an the same electronic page, and can bridge product for the armed servictoggle via Sectera Edge’s classiﬁed- es and civil colleagues and the next encrypted network.” In March, the NSA certified the to-nonclassiﬁed feature in near-real- logical generation of hardware. “It rugged device for classiﬁed voice time—interoperability exempliﬁed. builds on General Dynamics’ existing Besides its eye-blink speed, the secure voice and data products but and data communication up to the top-secret level, and access to multifunction Sectera Edge—a little at the same time is transformational, e-mail and web sites classiﬁed as larger than a typical personal digital with the capability to protect datasecret and below. The Sectera Edge assistant—has another advantage, at-rest and access classiﬁed e-mail.” was developed for the NSA’s Secure according to General Dynamics. It The Sectera Edge is a Comsec Mobile Environment Portable Elec- replaces a lot of office-clogging, Controlled Cryptographic Item remote-access hardware, gear that that’s available through an NSA intronic Device program. The smartphone implements the can increase the chance for “power deﬁnite delivery/ indeﬁnite quantity Secure Communications Interop- down” incidents, supply chain mis- contract, which has a potential value erability Protocol (SCIP), allowing management and other glitches. The over ﬁve years of $300 million. ■ GENERAL DYNAMICS AviationWeek.com/dti MAY 2008 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 43 http://AviationWeek.com/dti

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Defense Technology International - May 2008 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch Learn and Live Think Again Vive la Difference En Route Out of the Box Package Deal On Watch Inside Job Programs Update The Net Back to the Future Busy Signal Mighty Mites Hull of an Idea Tough Enough Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - May 2008

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