re: 49 next
27 September 2006 Company Announcements Office ASX Level 6 20 Bridge Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Dear Sirs, Senetas Announces New Hybrid Encryption R&D - ‘new encryption paradigm’ for Metro networks Please find attached a statement by Directors. Yours faithfully Andrew R Wilson Company Secretary Senetas Announces New Hybrid Encryption R&D - ‘new encryption paradigm’ for Metro networks Senetas Corporation Limited (ASX:SEN), the world’s leading developer and supplier of high speed network encryption hardware today announced it is working with a European technology manufacturer to develop a unique hybrid encryption solution employing quantum cryptography. Senetas CEO John DuBois speaking at the inaugural Senetas Security SummIT in Sydney said non-disclosure agreements had been exchanged and engineers from the two organisations had been working together over the past three months on what he described as “a new encryption paradigm”. The unique solution combines a quantum key distribution system (QKD) to generate and securely exchange cryptographic keys over fibre optic networks, and Senetas’ internationally accredited layer 2 encryption that secures networks at wire speeds of up to 10Gbps. “Combining the strengths of wire speed, accredited classical encryption systems with QKD techniques provides a new encryption paradigm. This hybrid model has immediate application to certain high security applications such as METRO networks for Government and financial organisations and also provides a very strong differentiator in the network security market,” Mr DuBois said. The European organisation or its specific geography could not be identified for market competitive reasons. He said the quantum cryptographic model could be used with Senetas’ CypherNet 1Gb Ethernet encryptor or other layer 2 technologies such as ATM or SONET. It requires modifications to CypherNet so that it can talk securely to a QKD device and produce a hybrid Quantum/Classical encryption product. The encryption keys will be sent across a fibre network using Quantum Key techniques and CypherNet will encrypt the payload using classical encryption. Mr DuBois said it was an example of Senetas future-proofing its business by working with key partners to derive greater value from the company’s world-leading technology. “While a marketable product is still some way off, the leadership Senetas is displaying in this cooperative venture is a response to inquiry from a number of customers with an immediate requirement for this kind of system. As we did with our microwave data encryption for a law enforcement agency earlier this year, we will proceed as soon as practicable with these customers to develop a proof of concept ”We have already identified from our discussions with the European organization that they also wish to become a reseller for Senetas’ current product range,” he said. Background: QKD relies on the physical properties of light to allow data to be transmitted securely. In brief: information can be sent encoded in a single photon of light. The principles of physics dictate that an eavesdropper who observes the photon must cause a detectable change in the orientation of the photon thus alerting the sender and receiver to the compromise. QKD can therefore be used to securely exchange cryptographic keys over fiber optic networks. Classical key exchange relies on the difficulty of certain mathematical problems (eg factoring large prime numbers) to ensure the security of transmission. Whilst there are no known weaknesses in the current mathematical techniques employed, QKD provides an exciting development in the field of cryptography. About Senetas: Senetas Corporation Limited (ASX Code: SEN) is an Australian ASX S&P 300 company and is the world’s leading developer and supplier of high speed network encryption hardware products. Its products are accredited to the highest international government security standards. Customers include Government departments in the USA, Australia, the Middle East, Asia, and European Countries as well as some of the world’s leading financial institutions. Visit Senetas on www.senetas.com For further information contact: John DuBois CEO Senetas Corporation Limited Phone: 03 9868 4555 Email: [email protected] Andrew Wilson Company Secretary Senetas Corporation Limited Phone: 03 9868 4555
SEN Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Not Held
