INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Information Assurance Division
Michael Guzelian
Director of Secure Voice and Data Products
General Dynamics C4 Systems
Information Assurance Division
Q: What do you see as the key information assurance challenges facing the U.S. military?
A: I believe the key challenge is to provide cost-effective secure solutions that satisfy the U.S. military’s environmental, technological and interoperability requirements. The warfighter at the tactical edge needs reliable, rugged solutions with reduced size, weight and power that integrate the latest technology and interoperate with joint forces in the U.S. and abroad.
Q: How is General Dynamics C4 Systems working to provide improved information assurance to the military?
A: General Dynamics C4 Systems is committed to providing secure IA solutions that evolve with environmental needs, technology transitions and interoperability standards such as IPv6, the High Assurance IP Encryptor Interoperability Specification (HAIPE IS) and the Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol (SCIP). We are taking security to the edge with the TACLANE-Micro (KG-175D) network encryptor and the Sectéra Edge (SME PED) Smartphone.
These products are small, lightweight and ruggedized to handle shock, vibration, extreme temperatures, precipitation, sand and dust, so the warfighter at the tactical edge can rely on these products to communicate securely. At the same time, these products have a commercial look and feel and can be used in an office or strategic environment. We understand in some cases that there is no time to read through an extensive user manual, or pull a secure device from a network to perform upgrades. That is the reason we design our solutions so they are intuitive to use and can be upgraded and maintained with little to no user intervention.
Q: What unique advantages does your company offer in this area in comparison with others in the field?
A: We provide secure communication solutions from the network to the desktop to the individual—including network encryptors, VoIP desktop phones and wireless handheld devices for voice and data communications. More than four decades of experience in information assurance and security have resulted in proven, reliable products. General Dynamics’ solutions make up the largest deployed base of over 180,000 secure devices being used to protect classified and sensitive information worldwide. The actual MTBF calculation for the TACLANE Encryptor (KG-175) is over 300,000 operating hours, which equates to over 30 years! We stand by all our products and make customer service our first priority with the General Dynamics C4 Systems 24/7 technical help desk support, online services unmatched by any competitors and an annual user conference event with more than 1,100 attendees.
Q: What new IA technologies are you developing for the future?
A: We are constantly evolving our products and solutions with new technology such as IPv6 while decreasing the size, weight and power of the devices. In 2007, new products will be available to meet user needs for smaller, mobile encryption solutions. The TACLANE-Router (1Q 2007) incorporates built-in routing functionality, providing additional security services and eliminating the need for multiple network devices. At less than five pounds, the ruggedized TACLANE-Micro (2Q 2007) is ideal for warfighters at the edge of the network in both tactical and strategic locations.
As organizations are migrating to Voice over IP (VoIP) networks, the need for end-to-end high assurance security is required to protect communications. The Sectéra vIPer Phone eliminates the need for multiple desktop phones as it incorporates features of a commercial IP phone with integrated security to protect classified through sensitive information, or both secure and clear calls. The vIPer phone is SCIP compliant and compatible with networks implemented using Cisco’s SCCP and SIP protocols, which means it will interoperate with devices and networks the U.S. military and government are currently using. The phone is also available to support multiple key sets for the U.S. government-sponsored interoperability, including NATO and coalition. The vIPer phone is built to provide seamless communications with legacy phones and encryption systems, and is software programmable with extensive memory to easily accommodate future upgrades and functionality.
The Sectéra Edge (SME PED) Smartphone is a ruggedized handheld device with capabilities including wireless voice and email, secure access to SIPRNet and NIPRNet, file viewing, instant messaging and personal organizer. While these products protect data-in-motion, data-at-rest solutions are currently in development. Data-at-rest, or media encryption, protects the information saved on a hard drive. Developments include solutions for laptops and desktops with embedded media encryption ensuring the information on the hard drive is never compromised.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: Yes. In addition to Type 1 encryption, our secure devices also include Non-Type 1 and Suite B algorithms. This eliminates the need for multiple devices—you don’t need one device for Type 1, another for Non-Type 1, and another for foreign interoperability. With one device, U.S. joint forces worldwide can communicate securely with other Department of Defense and federal users.
Our 10th annual Information Assurance Solution User Conference & Training event will be held May 30-31 in Las Vegas, Nev. More information can be found at www.gdc4s.com/userconference. For more information on TACLANE and Sectéra products, visit www.gdc4s.com/secureproducts. ♦
