Sectéra Secure Module
Encyclopedia
Sectéra is a family of secure voice and data communications products made by General Dynamics C4 Systems
which are approved by the United States
National Security Agency
. Devices in the family can use either the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) Advanced Encryption Standard
(AES) or SCIP to provide Type 1 encryption
, with communication levels classified
up to Top Secret. The devices are activated with a Personal Identification Number
(PIN).
GSM cell phone. The module is placed between the battery and the body of the phone. The phone may be used as a regular GSM phone when the security module is not activated by the PIN.
. The Sectera Edge costs approximately $3,000.
The Sectera Edge was developed by General Dynamics
competing against a product by L-3
under an $18 million contract from the National Security Agency
. Available since mid-2008, it is already used by tens of thousands of employees in the intelligence community and the Defense, Homeland Security
, and State Departments
among others. [4]
The Sectera Edge has been reported to be the smartphone
used by President Barack Obama
, replacing his BlackBerry
, which has earned it the nickname "BarackBerry".
and PSTN networks.
General Dynamics C4 Systems
General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics. General Dynamics C4 Systems is a leading integrator of secure communication and information systems and technology.-History:...
which are approved by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
. Devices in the family can use either the National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology , known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards , is a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute , which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce...
(NIST) Advanced Encryption Standard
Advanced Encryption Standard
Advanced Encryption Standard is a specification for the encryption of electronic data. It has been adopted by the U.S. government and is now used worldwide. It supersedes DES...
(AES) or SCIP to provide Type 1 encryption
Type 1 encryption
In cryptography, a Type 1 product is a device or system certified by the National Security Agency for use in cryptographically securing classified U.S...
, with communication levels classified
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
up to Top Secret. The devices are activated with a Personal Identification Number
Personal identification number
A personal identification number is a secret numeric password shared between a user and a system that can be used to authenticate the user to the system. Typically, the user is required to provide a non-confidential user identifier or token and a confidential PIN to gain access to the system...
(PIN).
Sectéra Secure Module
The Sectéra Secure Module is a device that can provide encryption of both voice and data. It is used in the Sectéra Wireline Terminal for use with standard PSTN devices and has been incorporated into a slim module to use with a MotorolaMotorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
GSM cell phone. The module is placed between the battery and the body of the phone. The phone may be used as a regular GSM phone when the security module is not activated by the PIN.
Sectéra Edge
Another member of the Sectéra family, Sectéra Edge, is a smart phone that supports both classified and unclassified voice and data communication, including access to the SIPRNETSIPRNet
The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network is "a system of interconnected computer networks used by the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information by packet switching over the TCP/IP protocols in a 'completely secure' environment"...
. The Sectera Edge costs approximately $3,000.
The Sectera Edge was developed by General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
competing against a product by L-3
L-3 Network Security
L-3 Network Security is a network security company in the United States. It was acquired by Symantec on February 14, 2000....
under an $18 million contract from the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
. Available since mid-2008, it is already used by tens of thousands of employees in the intelligence community and the Defense, Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
, and State Departments
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
among others. [4]
The Sectera Edge has been reported to be the smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
used by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, replacing his BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
, which has earned it the nickname "BarackBerry".
Sectéra Wireline Terminal
The Sectéra Wireline Terminal interfaces between a standard telephone and the local exchange to the PSTN. It is connected by standard RJ11 jack. The device cannot be used to communicate without a connected telephone.Sectéra vIPer Phone
Sectéra VoIP phone provide both non-secure and secure, end-to-end Voice over IPVoice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol is a family of technologies, methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission techniques for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol networks, such as the Internet...
and PSTN networks.