Leveraging Certicom’s SecurityBuilder cryptographic toolkit, Aether’s PocketBlue handheld application is the first mobile data product in government to use the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which was recently selected by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to replace the older Data Encryption Standard.
Today, it is more important than ever that mobile products used by government officials provide the maximum level of data protection, said Prakash Panjwani, Senior Vice President, Certicom. By using Certicom’s AES-based cryptographic toolkit and other safeguards, Aether PocketBlue exceeds national standards, ensuring sensitive government information is protected well into the future.
The ability to wirelessly exchange data among small, compact personal digital assistants (PDAs) enables law enforcement officials to remain visible in the community where they are most needed and to perform undercover operations safely and discreetly. Aether PocketBlue is the first handheld law enforcement application to ensure that both in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle personnel, as well as headquarters, are integrated into an agency’s mobile data system. All connected users are provided with real-time data access, silent and secure communication and system-wide alarms.
Comprehensive Handheld Security for Government Applications
Aether’s PocketBlue includes security mechanisms that completely protect against unauthorized access both to the portable device and to the data it transmits and receives. User authentication is accomplished via a server logon with the officer’s ID, password and a unique device identifier. Should the device fall into the wrong hands, any attempt at accessing data would be unsuccessful without the logon information. Furthermore, if a handheld is lost or stolen, the administrator can immediately render the device inoperable by disabling the IP address at the server.
To ensure confidentiality, all data is protected with end-to-end security using Certicom’s AES-based technology. The wireless network carriers further protect the data by the providing an additional layer of encryption during transmission. The multiple layers of encryption combined with strong authentication and a complete audit trail of activity allow system administrators to maintain maximum security over wireless handheld applications for mobile government.
Certicom Security Built Into Aether Fusion
In addition to being part of PocketBlue, Certicom’s security technologies are built into the Aether Fusion platform, a single-source foundation for wireless access to information and applications. Aether uses Certicom’s Elliptic Curve Cryptography and SSL Plus technologies in ScoutSync, a mobile enterprise data solution, and in Aether Intelligent Messaging (AIM) software, a wireless network connectivity solution.
Aether’s roots as a company are based on securing the wireless transmission of data for financial institutions and governments, said Tom Goodman, Aether’s Director of Security Services and a DoD-Certified Information Systems Security Analyst. Aether and Certicom share the same focus on ensuring the security of wireless data in the most demanding conditions. Certicom’s encryption technology plays a key role in Aether’s ‘umbrella’ security approach, which employs state-of-the-art network security appliances, U.S. Government-certified cryptographic libraries, independent auditing and certification by third parties, and strong management commitment that ensures security is a top priority.
