Spooks give CypherNet the tick on Layer 2 encryption

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 17 June 2008 13:02

Your IT - Home IT

The Australian government's Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) has given its blessing to the CypherNet multi-protocol encryptor from Senetas. The encryptor device adds a layer of security to traffic flowing between points on the Internet.

Following a lengthy period of testing under the Australasian Information Security Evaluation Program, CypherNet is now the only Layer 2 encryption product on the federal Evaluated Products List.

"Government departments need assurance that there will be appropriate levels of protection for their information that doesn’t impede their day to day business," said Ian McKenzie, the director of the DSD.

CypherNet Ethernet devices can operate at speeds of up to 1Gbps, meaning the unit acts as a 'bump in the wire' in terms of throughput, while securing traffic flowing between sites connected by the Internet. Fibre Channel models operate at up to 4Gbps.

"The exhaustive evaluation process of the CypherNet family of products involved many of Senetas' team of 25 engineers over the past two years," said Senetas CEO John DuBois.

"CypherNet is now sold in over 32 markets globally and we trust that, having been successfully evaluated for Australian Government use, that departments and agencies will recognise Senetas for its world leadership in high speed network encryption," he added.

All Senetas products are designed to meet Common Criteria EAL4, and FIPS 140-2 Level 2 or 3.

Vietnam's interested in CypherNet too - please read on.