NSA Certifies General Dynamics Sectera Edge Smartphone

Released on Thursday, March 06, 2008

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. � The National Security Agency (NSA) has certified the wireless Sectéra® Edge™ smartphone, a product of General Dynamics C4 Systems, for voice communications classified up to the Top Secret level and access to email and web-sites classified at the Secret level and below. General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

"For the first time, authorized military and government personnel can now wirelessly access both classified and unclassified voice and data communications on the same device," said John Cole, vice president of Information Assurance at General Dynamics C4 Systems. "The Sectéra Edge is an all-in-one communications solution allowing users to easily switch between classified and unclassified information by pressing a single key."

Similar in form and function to a commercial cell phone/personal digital assistant (PDA), the Sectéra Edge is capable of synchronizing information with a user's computer, enabling access to calendar, address book, calculator, notepad and other PDA capabilities. The smartphone operates on existing Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) commercial cellular networks. Planned enhancements will provide interoperability with wireless fidelity (WiFi) local area networks.

The smartphone interfaces with the U.S. Department of Defense Public Key Infrastructure using the government's standard Common Access Card. Information stored in the Sectéra Edge is protected using data-at-rest encryption.

Developed under the NSA Secure Mobile Environment/Portable Electronic Device (SME PED) program, the Sectéra Edge smartphone is compliant with the Secure Communication Interoperability Protocol (SCIP), enabling secure interoperability with SCIP devices including the Secure Telephone Equipment (STE) and existing Sectéra phones and terminals. The smartphone is also compliant with the High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor Interoperability Specification (HAIPE® IS) for secure interoperability with in-line encryption devices, including TACLANE® encryptors, that secure information on the U.S. Government's Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet).