Cellcrypt and Verizon to deliver encrypted mobile voice services to US Government
Under terms of a recently signed strategic agreement, the two companies will jointly market Cellcrypt’s mobile voice-encryption solution to military, intelligence and civilian agencies. The service will help government information technology departments manage the expanding use of mobile devices, address the potential risks associated with the interception of sensitive voice communications, and provide a powerful tool to combat cyberattacks on critical national infrastructure.
Currently undergoing trial testing with several government agencies, the yet-to-be named co-branded service will be available for sale this fall.
“The threats posed by cyberattacks are real and increasingly focused on US national security interests,” said Janet Schijns, vice president of vertical solutions, Verizon Enterprise Solutions. “By leveraging our combined strengths, Verizon and Cellcrypt will provide government agencies with an easy-to-deploy and interoperable mobile voice-encryption solution designed to maintain the security and integrity of sensitive communications.”
When launched, the Verizon-Cellcrypt service will be supported on smartphones and tablets running on the widely used Android, BlackBerry and iOS mobile operating systems. The downloadable software application, which supports federal information processing standard 140-2, will work across cellular, Wi-Fi and satellite networks, including Verizon’s industry-leading wireless networks. FIPS 140-2, created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is a US Government computer-security standard used to accredit cryptographic hardware and software.
“As a matter of national security, military and government personnel must be able to communicate sensitive information over their mobile phones, and it is imperative that these conversations be protected from interception,” said Kathleen Peters, Cellcrypt’s general manager of the Americas and vice president of business development. “The combination of our world-class encryption solution and Verizon’s networks will enable both companies to help strengthen the government’s ability to effectively combat cybersecurity threats.”
Verizon is the largest provider of communications services to the US Government, delivering a broad range of advanced IT and communications services. Visit the Verizon Public Sector website for more information.
